Video: Skype+Verizon at CTIA: We're living together

In which John Harrobin and Russ Shaw announce Verizon Wireless (the largest 3G company in the US) and Skype (the largest over-the-top Internet calling company) are moving in after announcing they were dating in February at the Mobile World Congress. Reactions to Skypizon (Veriskype?) are enthusiastic here at the  mobile industry's association and lobbying arm love fest.

The news release:

SKYPE MOBILE FOR VERIZON WIRELESS AVAILABLE THURSDAY
Companies Deliver Expansive Global Calling Community and Free Skype-to-Skype Calls on the Most Reliable Wireless Network in the United States

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg; LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., United States – (Virtual Press Office) - From CTIA WIRELESS 2010® in Las Vegas, Verizon Wireless and Skype today announced Skype mobile™ will be available this Thursday, March 25, starting with nine Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones. Skype mobile uses the Verizon Wireless voice network for the wireless connection of the Skype-to-Skype calls, providing Verizon Wireless customers with a superior experience and top-notch call quality.

Beginning Thursday, new and existing Verizon Wireless customers with Android 3G smartphones and BlackBerry 3G smartphones can get Skype mobile in a number of ways. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile or www.skype.com/go/mobile from a PC to enter the mobile phone number to receive a text message with a link to the application. Verizon Wireless customers can also text “SKYPE” to 2255 to receive the link. In addition, Android customers will be able to download the app from Android Market™. New BlackBerry customers will find the application on their 3G smartphones’ home screens in the Downloads folder when activated.

Skype mobile gives Verizon Wireless 3G smartphone users with data plans a simple new way to stay in touch with friends, family and business colleagues around the corner and around the world while on Verizon Wireless’ network. Skype mobile users can:

• make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype contact around the globe;
• send and receive unlimited instant messages with other Skype users;
• manage the Skype contact list directly from the mobile application; and
• call international phone numbers at competitive Skype calling rates.

John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing, noted, “Skype mobile will change the way mobile consumers in the United States make and receive calls. With an ‘always on’ capability, Skype mobile on your 3G smartphone means you never have to miss a call or make an appointment to connect with Skype users around the world. With Skype mobile, we’re untethering Skype users from their PCs and enabling them to stay connected – on the best wireless network in the country.”

Russ Shaw, general manager of Mobile for Skype, noted, “Skype mobile will deliver an unparalleled experience for Verizon Wireless customers. It will be the best way to enjoy unlimited conversations with Skype contacts all over the world at no extra cost. In addition, Skype mobile will allow people to easily and inexpensively make calls to landlines and mobiles abroad at Skype rates.”

Customers need a Verizon Wireless smartphone and data plan to use Skype mobile. Skype-to-Skype calls will not be charged against their monthly minute allowances or data plans. Verizon Wireless customers can visit www.skype.com to purchase Skype Credit to make Skype Out calls and make calls to international landline or mobile numbers.

Skype and Verizon Wireless have been working together to create this application specifically for Verizon Wireless customers and to take advantage of the most reliable wireless network in the United States.

Skype mobile will be available initially on millions of best-selling Verizon Wireless 3G smartphones, including the BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530, Storm2™ 9550, Curve™ 8330, Curve™ 8530, 8830 World Edition, and Tour™ 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS™ by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR™.

For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/verizonwireless. Learn more about Skype at www.skype.com or follow the company at http://twitter.com/skypemobile.

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tags: skype, verizon, blackberry, android, storm, storm2, curve, tour, droid, motorola, devour, htc, eris, rim

Using Skype mobile for Verizon Wireless

Here's the Say It Visually! whiteboard guide to Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless phones. Positioned as freeing you from your PC (the way, um, mobile phones do). Bonus points for unlimited Skype-to-Skype calling from your phone with your flat rate Verizon data plan. On YouTube.

tags: explanation, communications, verizon, wireless, mobile, sayitvisually

Call me at +1-510-316-9773, Skype me, follow @skypejournal and @Phil Wolff.
Visit our Skype Journal private technologist roundtable, one of the longest running public Skype chats.

Listen to Skype+Verizon Press Conference at Noon Pacific

Skype into the event: 877-883-4690 (United States and Canada) or +1 706-758-5386 (international). Conference ID: 64218465

Verizon Wireless And Skype To Unveil Skype mobile At CTIA WIRELESS 2010 In Las Vegas

03/22/2010

WHO:
Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless provider in the United States, and Skype, the company with the software that enables the world’s conversations

WHAT:
Verizon Wireless and Skype will hold a news conference during CTIA WIRELESS 2010® to unveil Skype mobile™. Speakers will include:

• John Harrobin, senior vice president of digital media and marketing, Verizon Wireless
• Russ Shaw, general manager of Mobile, Skype

WHERE:
CTIA Press Conference Room: Room N241 – North Hall
Las Vegas Convention Center
3150 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

WHEN:
12:00 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

To listen to a teleconference of the news conference, participants may call:
877-883-4690 (United States and Canada)
+1 706-758-5386 (international)
Conference ID: 64218465

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Skype
Skype is software that enables the world’s conversations. Millions of individuals and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. Every day, people everywhere also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles. Download Skype to your computer or mobile phone at skype.com.

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Ooma still in Fry's during CTIA

Ooma is on display as an alternative to Skype, MagicJack, VoIP from your US cable company, and your local landline. One flat fee for hardware ($250), use your existing phones, your current phone number, and never pay for landline service again. Just in time for the CTIA Wireless trade show here in Las Vegas. In tough times it might be worth it to pay once and be free from your local phone company. I can't help thinking the price is steep even so, compared to MagicJack. [From my iPhone, so please pardon the few seconds of my cut-off head.]

tags: skype, ooma, ctia, voip.

Call me at +1-510-316-9773, Skype me, follow @skypejournal and @evanwolf.
Visit our Skype Journal private roundtable, one of the longest running public Skype chats.