Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th

We knew it was coming, and now we have a concrete date. Starting this Thursday, March 25th, Verizon Wireless customers with one of nine select smartphones (Motorola Droid and Devour, HTC Droid Eris, various BlackBerrys) and data plan will be able to use Skype over the 3G network. As we heard before, Skype-to-Skype calls will not affect your VZW minutes, and now you've got the option to use the app for cheaper international dialing using the mobile app. Full list of compatible devices after the break, a list we're hoping gets expanded in the not-so-distant future.

• BlackBerry Storm 9530
• BlackBerry Storm2
• BlackBerry Curve 8330
• BlackBerry Curve 8530
• BlackBerry Curve 8830 World Edition
• BlackBerry Tour 9630
• Motorola Droid
• HTC Droid Eris
• Motorola Devour

[TheLondonExchange Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:13PM]

People on Engadget act like everyone uses Skype but uh no that's not the case.

I def do'nt care about it. And like others have mentioned it's not like you can use data and voice at the same time with verizons 3g network.

[jakefarber Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:21PM]

Not sure why this is such a big deal, at lease for the Droid and other Android phones. You can already use Google Voice to make calls, including dirt cheap international calls, and Google Voice is so integrated into the phone that using it is completely transparent.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:22PM]

No windows mobile?
Sucks for all the TP2\Imagio\Omnia2 users out there...
But I guess no one really cares about WM anymore.
Oh well, dying breed...

[Okapi Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:26PM]

@DoctarPeppar

they pulled the winmo skype pretty recently. luckily I still have my original set-up file.

[Cobra4455 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:45PM]

@DoctarPeppar
Skype has been on windows mobile for years.
Please research before you make stupid assumptions.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:46PM]

@Cobra4455
Oh ok so then you know for sure the STANDARD skype client will work with this Verizon plan then? Yeah, thought so.

[Jason Murray Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:34PM]

Is the app being released to the Android community in general?

(Interestingly, can't find Skype Lite in the market today)

[emaildejan Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:48PM]

That's just lame. Anyone can simply sign up for Rebtel, and if the two people have unlimited night and weekend minutes (or any other minutes for that matter), then they avoid the international call fees completely. But hey, if you want/use Skype, I suppose this is a good thing.

[KeegdnaB Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:51PM]

Awesome! My Tour will enjoy this.

Now about that 5.0 update Verizon.....

[KeegdnaB Posted Mar 23rd 2010 4:53PM]

@KeegdnaB also, since when is the 8830 a Curve?

[bravokiloromeo Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:18PM]

So we're gonna get this, just like we did 2.1?

[rickatnight11 Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:23PM]

Any word on call quality improvements over the voice line?

[Seawolf Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:54PM]

skype's pricing options are extremely confusing

[palomosan Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:56PM]

I've waiting for this one, calling over seas for cheap, nice one Verizon.

[Seawolf Posted Mar 23rd 2010 5:58PM]

And the BB 8830 is not a Curve, might want to edit the post Engadget.

[Johnny Rockets Posted Mar 23rd 2010 9:55PM]

No Palm?????????????

WTF????????????????????

[broken mini Posted Mar 24th 2010 10:04AM]

I've been using Fring (including making and receiving calls to and from skype contacts) on my droid eris since I got the phone. So I really don't understand why this is news.

[Ldubbz Posted Mar 25th 2010 5:22AM]

WTF?

STILL no WiFi?! What gives? Why not include Wifi Skype Out calls when the iPhone app can do that?

I dont see the point in this 'partnership' if we aren't getting the full monty that Skype has to offer. Or at least have every feature the iPhone or anyone else has and then some. Hell, there's an app called Fring that lets you make Skype Out calls over Wifi, but Skype wont do it them damn selves? Boggles the mind...

And dammit, after trying switching my # over to my goog #, and trying to now get my friends to do the same, it will be hard to get them to Skype now too.

[loudmike Posted Apr 14th 2010 10:53PM]

Timing couldn't be more perfect with the Skype release on my BB, and I was super excited to use it since I was headed to Asia and wanted to be able to make work calls.

So guess what....

It doesn't work outside the US network. How pointless is that?