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UK Provider Unveils Skype Mobile Phone

Free calls over the Internet for users in five countries at launch

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 29, 2007 5:06 PM CDT

(Newser) – British mobile phone provider "3" is unveiling a handset which lets users make free calls over the Net using Skype. The phone won't let you use Skype to make cheap calls to any phone number, like you could over the Internet, but still represents a new level of availability for the service. "Skype has now taken a giant step forward in the mobile arena," chief executive Michael van Swaaij tells the BBC.

Skype has nearly 250 million users worldwide, but until now phone companies have shied away from incorporating the service for fear of losing business. The Skype phone will be launched in Britain, Australia, Denmark, Italy, and Hong Kong, the BBC reports. "Mobile has the potential to massively increase access to internet calling." says 3 UK chief Kevin Russell.

Skype black model.
Skype black model.   (SkypeMedia)
Skype silver phone.
Skype silver phone.   (SkypeMedia)
Skype white and blue phone.
Skype white and blue phone.   (SkypeMedia)
Skype white and pink phone.
Skype white and pink phone.   (SkypeMedia)
Closeup of Skype white model.
Closeup of Skype white model.   (SkypeMedia)
Niklas Zennstrom, a co-founder of Skype and Joost, heads to lunch at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Thursday, July 12, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho.  (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Niklas Zennstrom, a co-founder of Skype and Joost, heads to lunch at the annual Allen and Co.'s media conference Thursday, July 12, 2007, in Sun Valley, Idaho. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)   (Associated Press)
eBay, PayPal and Skype pens are seen on display at eBay Inc. headquarters in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. eBay Inc. is expected to release quarterly earnings on Wednesday after the market closes. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
eBay, PayPal and Skype pens are seen on display at eBay Inc. headquarters in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. eBay Inc. is expected to release quarterly earnings on Wednesday after the market...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by eBay, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay, Meg Whitman, left, stands with Niklas Zennstrom, CEO and Co founder of Skype, the global Internet communications company, in central London, in this Monday Sept, 12, 2005 file photo.  EBay Inc. said Monday it will acquire Internet...
In this photo released by eBay, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay, Meg Whitman, left, stands with Niklas Zennstrom, CEO and Co founder of Skype, the global Internet communications company,...   (Associated Press)
Skype black and white models.
Skype black and white models.   (SkypeMedia)
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