Skype Launching Mobile Phone On 29th October?

October 24th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Skype

There have been several rumours over the last couple of days that Skype will be launching a branded mobile phone in partnership wih 3 in the UK, Italy, Hong Kong and Australia.

I’ve just received an invite to a pre-launch event for an ‘exciting new product from 3′. The PR person tried to be cryptic, but I think the last sentence below gives away too much info:

We can’t divulge exact details and timings yet; suffice to say the event will be staged in a central London venue on the 29th October and run from morning to night, with members of press, product managers, 3’s top brass and hopefully, your good self. We can reveal at this stage though, that *the product marks a radical step forward in mobilising internet calls for a mass market.*

I’m going to try and attend, but if I can’t make it the PR person has promised to send me a product so that I can join in the fun on the day. It could be quite interesting, particularly if I manage to walk away with a free handset!

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About the Author

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Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University, and currently runs the Portal and online operations for one of the largest ISPs in the UK. He also writes for Windows 7 News.

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There Are 17 Responses So Far. »

  1. #1

    Comment by Kline on 24 October 2007:

    Sweet… but.. you still need availability of internet connectivity, which means a data plan?

    ive seen phones (like your n95) that already have built in VOIP on them.. have you tried that out yet everton?

    free calls whenever you can get in wifi range… but i have no idea how that would work on a skype plan…

  2. #2

    Comment by horisly on 24 October 2007:

    wow, how i wish to get one invite..

  3. #3

    Comment by Everton on 24 October 2007:

    I think the data plan will be an unlimited one at a decent price, and then you pay for the Skype Out calls. For instance I could get unlimited VoIP with T-Mobile for £10/pm on TOP of my current plan, but I wouldn’t make enough calls to make it worthwhile.

    I’ve never bothered trying a VoIP service on my N95 because my VoIP data isn’t free

  4. #4

    Comment by gerrymoth on 24 October 2007:

    Sounds like I got the same email, wasn’t to sure if it was genuine or not cos the email address wasn’t from @three.co.uk or @skype.com, but was interested in the we will send you the product.
    You can buy Skype Wifi phones just now for under £80 and 3 mobiles now come with free skype to skype calling as part of the tariff, so what this combination is I’m not sure. If they are going to force you down a dataplan route (monthly subscription) I think it might fall flat on its face, but a cheap phone £50-£60 which can be used via Wifi, but be a PAYG 3 phone when Wifi not available would be a sure fire winner for the kiddies market. Might be the IT thing for Christmas.
    We’ll just need to wait till Jack sends the itinerary or Monday for the product launch.

  5. #5

    Comment by Everton on 24 October 2007:

    Will you be attending in person gerry? I can’t spare 5 hours.

    Also, spotted you’ve got a S60 3rd edition blog. I just subscribed as I’m on the lookout for apps for my N95. so far I’ve only got:

    - gmail client
    - live messenger client
    - calcium
    - Conversation

    installed. Got any recs?

  6. #6

    Comment by Serg V on 24 October 2007:

    Very interesting news, I use skype out for long-distance calls from my PС but not using skype-in. If their phone allow make free calls it will great.

  7. #7

    Comment by gerrymoth on 24 October 2007:

    I can’t attend on Monday, too short notice and I’ve got something already planned.

    For recommending applications for the N95 it depends what you do with it. Is there something you really need?

    Personally these are the applications I have on my N73 at the moment, which should work okay on your N95:-

    Google Mail v1.5
    Google Maps v1.7
    Coreplayer v1.1.2 (Plays any audio or video file)
    Nokia Podcasting v1.00.3
    LCG Jukebox v2.12 (Mostly use for Internet Radio)
    Social FM Player (Think this is trial at the moment, but doesn’t state it in the app)
    Nokia Team Suite v1.0
    Nokia Conversation v1.0
    Active Notes v1.0 (Great notes application)
    Opera Mobile v8.65 (Much much better than the built-in browser)
    Windows Live Messenger + Hotmail (Available via the Downloads! app on your N95)
    LCG Slick v0.28 Beta (MSN/Yahoo/ICQ/AIM Messenger)
    SIC! FTP (Connect to FTP Servers)
    Sky Anytime v5.00 (Sky+ Remote Record)
    Jaiku v0.80
    Widsets v1.0
    Skype for 3 (FREE Skype to Skype calls on 3 network)
    Fring (MSN/Skype/Twitter messenger and MSN/Skype/SIP voip calling)
    SplashID v3.33 (Store all your Usernames/Password securely)
    Handy Calendar v1.0 (Better than the built in calendar)
    Handy Converter v 1.01 (Currency converter)
    Handy Blacklist v2.0 (Blocks incoming calls defined by yourself)
    LivePVR v2.71 (Record all calls, voice recorder and meeting notes recorder)

    I’ve got loads more, just depends what you want. Have a read through my blog I’ve given a better explanation for some of these.

  8. #8

    Comment by Harishankar on 24 October 2007:

    thats another one now… These kind of romours (untill its officially announced) are keeping as wait wait n wait for something everytime… I dont know if companies makes these romours true as they are worth or these are real news leaks….

  9. #9

    Comment by Everton on 24 October 2007:

    @Gerry

    lol didn’t know about the Download app on the phone - thanks for the headsup. Will scan through your posts in the week - thanks.

    I’m getting my ’skype’ goodie delivered to my work address on the day. I hope they still deliver it once they realise ‘Everton’ works for the ‘competition’!!

  10. #10

    Comment by Micah on 24 October 2007:

    I just heard about the phone. I wonder if it will take off…could create a wave of new Wi-Fi phones.
    That’s really cool you get invited to all these announcement parties. I guess it pays to be a successful blogger!

  11. #11

    Comment by Karthik on 24 October 2007:

    How different would it be from the phones manufactured by Belkin and others? Would there be more “in-built” features so to speak?

  12. #12

    Comment by Marcus the Lover on 25 October 2007:

    If it’d be free (or /15th the industry price), considering that Skype could use IP to bounce signals…. I’m all for it!

    Hmmm.. wonder if it’ll have tons of ads

  13. #13

    Comment by Sasha T. on 26 October 2007:

    Skype mobile? You have got to be kidding me….

    S.

  14. #14

    Pingback by 3 Launch Skypephone In The UK | Connected Internet on 29 October 2007:

    [...] expected I received 2 free Skypephones today courtesy of 3’s PR machine, as part of the new 3 Skypephone service launch today in the [...]

  15. #15

    Pingback by Mobility Watch » Blog Archive » Will We Be Meeting A Skype Mobile Phone? on 2 November 2007:

    [...] Connected Internet] [Image from mobileFanatic.net] Did You Enjoy this Post? Subscribe to Mobility Watch. It’s Free! [...]

  16. #16

    Comment by Handy Karten on 16 February 2008:

    can’t wait for this move…

  17. #17

    Comment by Everton on 17 February 2008:

    @Handy karten

    It’s already happened! - check the related posts - http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2007/10/29/3-launch-skypephone-in-the-uk/

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