3 and Skype launch VoIP mobile calls

3 and Skype launch VoIP mobile calls

Mobile operator 3 has launched the 3 Skypephone, a mobile phone capable of making VoIP calls over its mobile network. Due to hit the UK market this Friday, the device has Skype built-in and can use 3's 3G network to make normal mobile phone calls and send texts.

Ovum's principal analyst, John Delaney, pointed out that the rival mobile operators, such as Vodafone, T-Mobile and Orange, have all taken flak recently for alleged hostility towards customers using VoIP on their networks. "Now here comes 3, not only encouraging its customers to use VoIP, but bending over backwards to make it easy for them," he added.

Delaney said that the initiative being taken by 3 is no coincidence. "As the smallest and newest of the UK mobile operators, 3’s best hope for growth is to disrupt the status quo wherever it can,” he argued.

The Skypephone was developed through a partnership between Skype and 3, with communications chipset manufacturer Qualcomm using its binary runtime environment for wireless (BREW) platform to let Skype access core handset features, such as address book and messaging. The 86g device comes with a two megapixel camera, Bluetooth support and a 256MB microSD card as standard.