The sky must be falling… The most restrictive carrier in the US, Verizon, just announced with Skype at MWC that they have created an exclusive easy to use Skype application for BlackBerrys. No word yet on the release date but they promise to have more information by next month. The upcoming Skype/Verizon application will allow you to:
- make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe
- call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates
- send and receive instant messages to other Skype users
- remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence
When launched the new Skype mobile application will be available for the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition, and Tour 9630. I am really curious to know how Verizon has managed to get full VoIP working on BlackBerrys but I welcome it all the same. Compared to other smartphones which already have 3G Skype calling this is not really a game changer but for BlackBerry users who have yet to see a true VoIP solution this is huge!
Check out the full press release or read more about it at:
www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile
Roy ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 26
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 12:40 PM EST
@Ronan – “America’s most reliable wireless network”… you are becoming political
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) Senior admin - Posts: 5299
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 12:42 PM EST
I didnt type that…. Its from their press release.
Off to delete it
KingB Not Registered
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 1:09 PM EST
not cool…. there is no mention of Wifi support. This basically means that Verizon will get their cut anyway as you will use your minutes anyway…
Mendy ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 14
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 1:09 PM EST
It’s over 3G.. how will it use minutes?
ShvartzBerry ( View Profile) Enthusiast - Posts: 288
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 1:37 PM EST
Yeah, if anything, it would be a more prudent move for Verizon to allow access via WiFi. If they are NOT going to get you to use your minutes, they’re better off letting you use WiFi and thus, regular Internet, then allowing you to flood and cripple their network like you-know&who did with the i-you-know-what.
Mendy ( View Profile) Newcomer - Posts: 14
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 1:09 PM EST
Well.. it is. AT&T does have the nation’s fastest 3G network, but Verizon is the most reliable. I found out the hard way.
KingB Not Registered
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 1:42 PM EST
good point guys…. maybe it will use minutes (like todays voip solutions for BB) or use your data…
DavidB ( View Profile) Guru - Posts: 1751
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 2:30 PM EST
If it’s over 3G as stated, it doesn’t use “minutes”. It’s just other bits of data across the EV-DO infrastucture, unlike “minutes” (and SMS texts) which consume CDMA bandwidth.
Looks to me like a way for Verizon to move some portion of “phone calls” off their CDMA network (which is HARD to expand) and onto their EV-DO/LTE data neworks (which are far easier to expand).
Kudo’s to Big Red.
DavidB ( View Profile) Guru - Posts: 1751
Posted: February 16, 2010 at 2:53 PM EST
And interesting…though the press release lists Curve 8330 and World Edition 8830, neither of those are on the “Compatible Devices” list over at their web site.