Already unveiled for Apple’s trend-setting iPhone smartphone and iPod Touch handset, online telephony service Skype has also now been officially confirmed for Research In Motion’s (RIM) line of iconic BlackBerry smartphones.
Skype officially heading for a May date with the Bold. Image: juanpol/Flickr.
Announced on Tuesday by eBay-owned communication specialist Skype, the mobile “lite” version of the hugely popular VoIP platform, which reportedly already has some 17 million on-the-go users, will be available in beta form this coming May.
Arriving as a free download, the application will initially be compatible with BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve handsets, with further support for other BlackBerry devices due to roll out soon thereafter.
While not carrying the same feature weight as the original personal computer version of Skype, the “thin” mobile iteration still enables Bold and Curve owners to enjoy completely free Skype-to-Skype calls worldwide with any other Skype user.
Other features include instant messaging capabilities, low rate calls to conventional landline or mobile phones, and a mobile interface that lists the user’s Skype contacts whenever they appear online and are available to chat.
Immediately after introduction, call availability will be restricted to Austria, Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom. However, Skype and RIM are eager to point out that additional availability will follow.
Beyond bringing its VoIP service to BlackBerry and Apple devices, Skype is also being hosted on mobile handsets powered by Google’s Android operating system and more than 100 other mobile platforms equipped with Java and Windows Mobile.
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