Apple has the iPhone, Microsoft has Windows Mobile, and Google has, well, whatever the new gPhone operating system is going to be called. Computer software companies can't seem to get enough of the mobile phone market. Now it looks like Skype has plans to partner with 3 Mobile to create a Skype branded cellphone. 3 Mobile is a wireless carrier covering Europe, Asia, and Australia, so don't expect to get your hands on a Skype cellphone in the US anytime soon. But if the phone proves popular overseas, who knows what could happen in the US market.
The phone will reportedly work just like a regular cellphone -- until you press the big button that launches the Skype application. Then you'll be able to call any other Skype user for free, whether that person is using Skype on a computer or phone. Because the calls are being routed over the internet, there's no reason to charge you for anything but data minutes (it's not clear what kind of data plans will be offered with the phone).
Skype will charge its usual rates for SkypeOut calls if you're calling anyone who is not using the Skype service. Since SkypeOut international rates tend to be lower than the rates you'll get from 3 Mobile or most other telephone service providers, this sounds like a pretty good deal. But it raises an interesting question: if the Skype cellphone model proves successful the service will put itself out of business. If most of the people you call are Skype customers you'll be making free calls all the time and Skype won't be making any revenue aside from whatever service fee it collects from 3 Mobile.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-18-2007 @ 4:12PM
Ian said...
This would make a useful sort of worldphone when sold in the US! And unlocked of course.
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10-18-2007 @ 4:24PM
keeves said...
You could use the same argument that if voip in general it will eventually put itself out of business. if everyone used Skype to call each other this may be true, however Skype is still not a very common way of calling people.
Also, shouldn't the title to this post read
"Skype mobile phone coming soon (but NOT to the US)" ???
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10-18-2007 @ 4:25PM
Brad Linder said...
Thanks Keeves, that was a typo. I've updated the title.
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10-27-2007 @ 5:30PM
Steve Harrington said...
eBay who owns Skype, say that they are not earning the money the first thought they would when they bought Skype in 2005. Lots of information on the web about this and I read in one article that eBay (Skype) did make 90 million.
The Business Week news web site were one of the first main sources to release the Skype Mobile news. News sources say that 3 Mobile will announce the new Skype Mobile phone on October 30th and the hardware should be in stores by Thursday following a few days later.
http://search.businessweek.com/Search?searchTerm=skype+mobile&resultsPerPage=20
I am in New Zealand, so I used the Australian link on this web site to gather similar Aussie prices etc.
http://www.skype.com/campaigns/skypeon3/
It says in this link in Australia that 3 supplies the Unlock Code when you purchase the current "X Series" Skype on mobile phones.
I recently phoned the 3 Mobile company in my home city of Melbourne, Australia from New Zealand where I live. 3 Mobile confirmed on the phone that the Skype IN number (landline number attached to your Skype name) does work on the X Series mobiles. I have a Skype IN number in New Zealand when they became available 2 months ago.
New Zealand Telecom charge NZ$45 per month for a landline, Skype IN number is only NZ$50 per year.
You buy Skype PRO for NZ$3 per month and Toll Free calling nation wide in NZ is added. Australia only gets toll free calling state by state. The owner (me) of the Skype IN number pays a 6 cents connection fee for Skype OUT national toll free calls. That is OK I guess fo NZ, Australians pay 25 cents connection fee for Telecom lines per local calls.
All this is great news for the Skype Mobile phone coming soon. Toll free national calls to any landline through my Skype account on my Skype Mobile, I am looking forward to it coming to New Zealand.
It has taken me a while to figure much of this out, but on the Australian link of Skype dot com, it says that the prices per month for "X Series" mobiles are from AUD$12, $20, $30 & $40 for "X" minutes of Skype OUT calls plus internet data access.
Note, it also says the "X Series" prices are bolted on (added) to one of your selected "cap" plan prices.
So if I bought the lowest cap plan at AUD$29 for normal cell phone use and then added the "X Series" $20 plan for 1,000 minutes of Skype OUT etc., the total per month would be $49. I suppose the 200 minutes of national calls to other 3 mobiles in the $29 cap plan could be used up for the sake of it. The Skype OUT with Skype IN number access would be more useful for toll free calls to landlines. If you go over your Skype limit ($20 = 1,000 minutes) it will cost you 5 cents per minute on the Skype mobile.
Sorry about the long message.
Steve. New Zealand
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