3’s Skype phone coming this week

More details have emerged about 3’s mooted Skype phone – and it’s coming to the UK this week.

Rumours have been circulating for ages that Skype was going to release a low-cost device, about the same time that 3 said it was working on a Skype device for its subscribers. 3 of course, already offers Skype on its X-Series handsets as a downloadable application.

Now it has emerged that the customised device, dubbed the ‘white phone’ will reach these shores this week (along with Italy, Hong Kong and Australia, while other 3 territories get it later).

The device, developed with software from by a company called iSkoot, will have multimedia capabilities and HSDPA for mobile web browsing. The Skype service will be activated by a big button on the keypad, activating the iSkoot application.

It’s a brave move by 3 considering that mobile operators are generally reticent about pushing the Skype service when they don’t benefit from call revenues on Skype’s free VoIP calls. However, Business Week says that while 3 won’t charge for Skype calls, handset owners will have to spend a certain amount a month on other services like normal mobile calls and media content.

[Via Business Week]

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