Stuart wrote last night about Skype’s launch of a native Series 60 mobile application, and how it calls a local-rate number to initiate calls. But now the company has announced full details of its plans, and how to get the beta application for your phone.
The beta client works on around 50 handsets from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola, and it includes chat, group chat, presence, and the ability to receive Skype and SkypeIn calls. In eight countries (including the UK), making Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls is also included.
It’s very much experimental: “These are still the early days for making Skype calls on mobile phones,” says Gareth O’Loughlin, general manager of mobile and hardware devices at Skype.
“While Skype for your mobile is in beta, it is an important time for us to listen to our users’ feedback, be it through surveys or user forums. We need to hear what delights them and where there is still work to be done. But this product underscores our commitment to innovation and to putting Skype conversations in the pockets of today’s mobile masses.”
The beta will last for several months, with Skype then planning to release a full commercial version of the application. As Stuart pointed out, it’s not pure Skype using your phone’s data or Wi-Fi connection.
Calling Skype contacts will cost the same as a local or national voice-call on your operator contract (but counts as part of any inclusive minutes you have). Meanwhile, the application does use data when you’re online - Skype gives the example that if you have 20 contacts, and every day are online for one hour, IM for ten minutes, and have a 20-minute call each day, you’ll use around 1MB of data a month.
Oh, and they don’t recommend you use it abroad, thanks to roaming data charges.
Want to have a go? Head to Skype’s Mobile Download website for instructions.
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