Skype Mobile

April 19, 2005


Skype MobileAccording to MobileMag, Skype Technologies co-founder and CEO Niklas Zennstrom reported that a mobile version of Skype will be available this year. I decided to check out to see if Skype had registered any domains with both Skype and "mobile" in the name. Sure enough, I noticed that perhaps a cybersquatter had already purchased www.skypemobile.com. Some further research reveals it is owned by Skyper Limited based out of the Netherlands.In other words, Skype owns this domain and it's parked at GoDaddy with a "Coming Soon!" message.

Courtesy of MobileMag.com:

Skype is a free global telephony application that allows for VoIP communications, it currently runs on Mac OSX, Windows and Pocket PC, Skype plans to release a version for Embedded Linux, Symbian or Windows Mobile devices later this year.

“We will encourage hardware manufacturers to deploy Skype on their devices.” said Zennstrom. SkypeMobile for mobile devices (our unofficial name for the new Skype) will be targeted to hardware manufacturers for integration into new dual-mode (GPRS + WiFi) mobile devices once made available to carriers. Our guess is that whichever manufacturer will adopt Skype first is the platform SkypeMobile will be released for.

Regulatory issues may slow Skypes deployment down, large telecommunication companies have huge pull when it comes to communication regulations. They earn billions of dollars each year from long distance calls, they also pay the government millions more in taxes each year. According to Zennstrom these companies will be the last ones to continue charging for long distance communications on a per call basis while other companies have started offering flat-rate services.

It may be hard convincing a manufacturer to allow Skype to be put on their device and be available right out of the box, the carriers will bitch and complain that it will cut their airtime revenues. Besides, what will stop them from removing the software once its in their hands? We know sneaky stuff like this has happened before.



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Comments to Skype Mobile


  1. DG Lewis :
    April 19, 2005 8:15 PM

    The trojan horse is the WiFi-only handset with embedded Skype, positioned as for "home use" - because I, for one, think that there's a play for a handset I can use anywhere in my home without worrying about whether my PC is on or whether it's rebooting because it hung due to some game my kid's playing. Left unstated is the fact that it'll work fine at the local WiFi hotspot...


  1. harun :
    December 12, 2005 9:28 AM

    internet agi uzerinden ve cep telefonundan nasil dunyanin
    her yeri ile ucuza konusa bilirim tesekkurler


  1. Lili :
    January 10, 2006 2:12 AM

    Ma te miret


  1. skype fan :
    May 30, 2006 10:43 AM

    With good pricing Skype has gotta get their mobile phones out soon,in order to stop these other original mobile companies charging millions stupid rates,good luck Skype.


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