Verizon And Skype Offering Free Calls For SmartphonesVerizon And Skype Offering Free Calls For Smartphones

Tuesday in Barcelona Verizon Wireless and Skype announced a new application for smartphones that will allow for free, unlimited calls to any other Skype user worldwide. What's really interesting is that the Verizon Skype app doesn't use VoIP at all.

Eric Ogren, Contributor

February 16, 2010

1 Min Read
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Tuesday in Barcelona Verizon Wireless and Skype announced a new application for smartphones that will allow for free, unlimited calls to any other Skype user worldwide. What's really interesting is that the Verizon Skype app doesn't use VoIP at all.First, the details. The new application, which works with most Verizon BlackBerries and Android devices, will be free to download starting in late March. For customers who already subscribe to a monthly data plan, the application provides for free Skype-to-Skype calling.

Other features outlined by the companies are: Skype users can call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates; they can send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and users can remain always connected with the ability to see friends' online presence. Good stuff.

The application will be available to the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8530, Curve 8330, and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition; and the Motorola Droid and Devour; and the HTC Eris.

The stunning part of this deal is that the application does not use the VoIP technology for which Skype is typically known. Instead, all Skype calls, whether to other Skype users in the U.S. or overseas, transit Verizon Wireless' circuit-switched cellular voice network.

My guess is Verizon was very strict with what level of call quality it would allow. It must not have been pleased with the quality that was offered by VoIP, hence the cellular network requirement.

In any case, the application will be available in late March.

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