Nokia launches Skype for smartphones

Nicole McCormick | March 04, 2010

telecomasia.net

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Skype can be downloaded onto 23 devices from Nokia starting today, Nokia has announced.

However, users on the Official Nokia Blog site are reporting problems with the downloading the app.

Nokia yesterday released Skype for Symbian, which allows selected Nokia smartphone users to use the VoIP app over a Wi-Fi connection or over operator’s GPRS, EDGE or 3G connections where permitted.

The app is downloadable for free from Nokia’s Ovi Store.

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian 1, the latest version of the Symbian platform.

“Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson,” said a joint statement.

The app is a fully featured Skype client, “giving users the ability to make free Skype-to-Skype calls, send and receive instant messages and share files such as pictures and video,” said Russ Shaw, Skype’s general manager mobile.

Phone numbers from a Nokia device’s address book can be imported directly into the app.

But some users say they have not been able to find Skype in Ovi Store. Another said the system crashed when trying to download Skype to the phone.

“Unfortunately, when clicking on Skype in Ovi Store, it says the item is no longer available,” said yet another on Official Nokia Blog.

Moreover, Asian mobile operators have so far not warmed to Skype for fear of cannibalizing existing revenues.

However, a study, commissioned last year by Skype, found that continuous Skype users on 3 UK’s network not only generate 20% higher revenue margins than non-users, but also nearly 60% more voice revenue than non-Skype users.

Source:

telecomasia.net

Nicole McCormick

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