MWC 09: Nokia phones to feature preinstalled Skype

Skype and Nokia have today announced a partnership to bring the popular voice over IP (VoIP) system to a wide range of handsets.

Starting with the Nokia N-series, Skype will be added as standard to all Nokia handsets, giving users a choice of voice connection as well as a number of other low-cost communications options. The first unit to be released with the technology will be the Nokia N97, set for an update in the third quarter of this year.

Putting Skype on handsets will give users low-cost calls to landlines and mobile devices, the firms said, as well as access to other services such as Skype instant messaging. The two firms will work on developing the application, and making it fit on the Nokia platform.

They said that connecting over Skype will be easy, requiring just the push of a button.

"Making Skype available everywhere through mobile devices is essential to fulfilling our vision of enabling the world's conversations'," said Scott Durchslag, Skype's chief operating officer.

Jose-Luis Martinez, vice president at Nokia's Nseries division, said in a statement: "With more than 400 million Skype users worldwide, the integration of Skype on Nokia Nseries mobile computers is a significant step in bringing converged Internet experiences from the desktop to the world's most advanced mobile computer."

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