Smartphone and Gadget News by ElectroGeek

EBay-owned Skype has released into open beta testing a client for mobile phones that supports phone calls, chat and other features of the popular VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application.

“This product is a part of our goal to be on as many platforms as possible,” said Wilhelm Lundborg, product manager, Skype for Business.

About 50 handsets from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson are compatible with the service. Other phones might works as well, as long as they support Java, since that’s what the client is based on.

Right now, all the features work in the U.K., Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland and Estonia. Elsewhere, the data features and incoming Skype calls work, but the software does not allow outbound calls.

Just like existing the existing Skype client, offered by, for example, mobile carrier 3, it uses the mobile network to make calls, like a traditional phone. All calls are routed via a Skype-owned gateway, to keep costs down.

The mobile data network is used to send presence information and instant messages.

Full Story Via PC World

Filed under: Business and Finance, Smartphones, Software, Voip