Skype + Verizon Wireless join forces – BlackBerry and Android apps coming to US in March
Skype has joined forces with Verizon Wireless, the largest and most reliable mobile network in the US.
From March, you’ll be able to get Skype on a wide range of Verizon Wireless phones, including 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. I know that many of you have been waiting for these apps, particularly those for BlackBerry and Android, and it’s great that we’re now able to offer them to people across the US.
With Skype mobile on Verizon, you’ll be able to:
- make and receive unlimited free Skype-to-Skype voice calls to anyone on Skype around the globe
- call international phone numbers at our low rates
- send and receive instant messages to other Skype users
- see your friends’ online status
In the video above, Skype CEO Josh Silverman and Russ Shaw, VP and GM of our mobile division, talk more about the background to our relationship with Verizon. It’s a very exciting step forward in the world of Skype on mobile – and stay tuned for more news on how you can get hold of Skype on your Verizon phone between now and March.
I can’t figure out how to make an international call using Skype on Droid.
I enter +[country code] [areacode] [number] (+44 in this case) but I get a message that “calls to US numbers will be carried by Verizon), and it tries to call a US 404 number instead. and then the call ends. I’m using the same number in my Skype address book that works on my Mac. I think I’m following the instructions, but there’s no documentation in sight. Help
@whitneyq this should work just fine – drop our support team a line; they should be able to help.
Just one thing to say…the Skype app for Android should allow for access over WiFi. There’s no excuse for not allowing this. Skype is a VOIP app and therefore should utilize all options. Having to use my Verizon minutes to make a domestic Skype call is just plain stupid, might as well just call the person’s phone and bypass Skype altogether. The only benefit for me with this app is to call my folks back in the UK from my cellphone but then I might as well use my computer with my webcam and get a video call going. Screwed this one up pretty good, Skype.
yeah you got it right there nhutch77, i bought the droid and installed skype thinking i could use it via wifi when travelling oversea. i guess have to use google talk for now.
if any folks from skype monitoring this thread, is there a future release date that would remove this restriction?
@huy8dang yes, we do hope to be able to remove the restriction in future. Stay tuned!
Glad to hear it Peter, the restriction makes it a worthless app cluttering storage space. I am not willing to leave my WiFi turned off just in case I get a Skype call, but if I turn the wifi on the Skype app breaks the connection. Seriously? I also travel to places where I have wifi but no Verizon connection, and would love to have access to Skype there (and Verizon would lose no revenue in the process!). Until then, I leave Skype off on my phone unless I need to initiate a call or chat.
OK,
I am Verizon customer wanting Skypes great service. I just bought $500 in two Droid phones. First : The Skype (Verizon ) App does NOT work outside the US. I cant call my wife on our Verizon phone using Skype. They are charging me International call rates for her to pick up the call. Second : When I try to access the web browser to get to Skype: Verizon has BLOCKED my sign in page from coming up. I CANT LOG INTO SKYPE.
Third: Take this Verizon conection out and SKYPE works as directed. Verizon is forcing me to spend more MONEY. I spent nine hours on the phone with Verizon to figure out that this relationship is a way for Verizon to control my Skype usage……..
If anyone can get my Droid to be able to use SKYPE please HELP. As for now this Verizon APP is WORTHLESS WASTED SPACE. I am considering dumping Verizon completly for their actions concerning SKYPE USAGE. You are allowing the great use of SKYPE to be controlled and REGULATED by Verizon only to CHARGE MORE MONEY. It isnt chance that the only web page I can’t use on my phone is the sign in page to SKYPE. The DATA MESSAGE ERROR that comes up is certainly token control.
@f4uman
It is designed to be like this. Please read the product description more carefully.
Ok I just upgraded from my HTC Hero which I had Skype on that worked well to the EVO 4G with Sprint and just found out you are screwing all other android owners for Verizon. I guess I will be using a different service. How you can provide it and then give it to one carrier is beyond me. No different that Apple and their stupid alliance with At&t that has limited their growth. Would have been nice but there is no reason to force users to switch to Verizon if they don;t want too
I’m done with Verizon. The salesman at the Verizon (corporate store) as well as one at a retail outlet (Costco) told me that WiFi would work with this. It was a major reason my wife and I bought these phones. Now we can’t, when out of the country, use wifi to make calls on our phones. Thanks Verizion. This time, I’m done with you. I may have just signed a new contract but I promise you, there won’t be a next time. Considering how many times I’ve been lied to by Verizon and how little consideration they give the customer, I really think I’ll be happier on ANY other network!
Ok, who’s doing who here and who’s on top? seems like to me Verizon and Skype is in the bed with each other but we are the ones getting screwed? No, I am not going to be forced to buy a Verizon phone! Verizon is the most expensive deal around and I thought Skype had it togather. WTF can’t people see what going on here? What kind of pillow talk deal have you guys at Skype cut with Verizon and what about the other carriers you couldn’t prostitute them and get a good deal? Ilove skype,but now that it is being tricked out by verizon watch out!
when will Skye released for International Users outside the states?
we are Waiting, and when it will not released, big shame about skype…..
skype was cool in the past,
here in Germany are big discussion, an thousands of Blogs and Websites..
but i think skype Manager are not thinging about the big image lost
hey. i got storm2 vwz but i can’t download this skype mobile..
its say
“Sorry, skype is unavailable for your mobile” that’s unbelievable
how can vwz and yet its on skype web, that this phone is available for skype
and then i can’t download it????
I have the same problem as
>>blaked95 commented Saturday, Mar 27
I have a droid eris, it says i can only use skype on a verizon phone.. my phone is made by verizon..
Peter Parkes commented Monday, Mar 29
@blaked95 we had some teething problems with a tiny minority of Eris customers – make sure WiFi is switched off when you try to download, and let me know if you’re still having trouble getting Skype mobile on your phone.
It would be really awesome to have this app, my boyfriend has it and he’s currently across the country. HELP!
I use skype on my phone because Verizon coverage at home stinks! Now because of Skype caving to Verizon, I cant use Skype on my Verizon phone over WiFi…back to my iPhone I guess.
Way to make a good product worse!
Having the same issue with my Droid Eris. It says that Skype Mobile is only for Verizon users but I am one?? I’ve uninstalled, turned off wifi, reinstalled, tried everything……. Help us!!!!!
sbthueringer commented Monday, Jul 5
I have the same problem as
>>blaked95 commented Saturday, Mar 27
I have a droid eris, it says i can only use skype on a verizon phone.. my phone is made by verizon..
Peter Parkes commented Monday, Mar 29
@blaked95 we had some teething problems with a tiny minority of Eris customers – make sure WiFi is switched off when you try to download, and let me know if you’re still having trouble getting Skype mobile on your phone.
It would be really awesome to have this app, my boyfriend has it and he’s currently across the country. HELP!
I have Droid Eris running on Android 2.1 and it says the Skype Mobile is unavailable for my device…? I had it before, but now it’s not even in the Market. What is the problem?
@vjpenaloza-jackson you can find out more here.
Ok, this is so ridiculous! I’m very excited about getting my Android Zio soon, but now i hear that i won’t be able to download Skype, because the Zio isn’t carried by Verizon?? That’s so wrong.
Ok, this is so ridiculous! I’m very excited about getting my Android Zio soon, but now i hear that i won’t be able to download Skype, because the Zio isn’t carried by Verizon?? That’s so wrong.
I agree of all of you, this is ridiculous!! For god sake, LISTEN UP skype people: we need skype application running on ALL cell phones platforms OVER WI-FI. Particularly on the only free, open-source, linux-based platform: android…
It really sucks… I used to use Fring which I could run over wifi on any android and Fring was making the connect to my skype account. It worked flawlessly… What did skype do ?!? They just blocked their connection to Fring last week.
Shame on you Skype, shame on you….
SKYPE YOU ARE A CORPORATE HO YA KNOW. Thanks alot for $hitting all over us non “Big Red” Android Users. You won’t even let Fring do its thing? Thanks! Yeah, thanks for nothing. I will not be renewing as I dont carry my friggin laptop around with me like I do my Android. Boooooo Boooooo and likewise BOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Ok…I am an idiot. Can anyone answer me this:
Verizon offers a “national Messaging” plan (Data only, web, etc..NO VOICE) for 34.99/mo
Can I add Skype out for $7.99/mo and basically have unlimited calling for about 43 bucks a month?
Also, how much more (if anything) will it cost to have a number people can call me on that will work on the android (assuming the above is all “YES”)
I just saw SkypeIn is $60/yr ($5/month) sooooo…..
If all this works as I envision, I can make unlimited outgoing/incoming calls AND have unlimited data/web/etc on the droid for 48 bucks a month?
Is this true?
I’d like to ask what chiefwreka74 asked previously:
Hi guys, and congrats on combining Verizon & Skype. I have one question though. The users that have unlimited country or unlimited world, would they be able to make unlimited call to mobiles and landlines or would the be charged a small fee? The reason for the question is that the user already paid for the subscription for the unlimited services and is also paying for unlimited data service through their carrier provider. I would like to know comments and answer on this cause it would not make sense that you have these services and you are still paying extra to use them.
The people at Verizon are telling me that the app lets you call skype to skype but that they are not sure about having a subscription that allows you unlimited landlines worldwide. When you log onto your skype app is it just like using it from your pc or laptop or is it a reduced version? If anybody can answer this I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
and what should we do here in Russia? or anyone who have no ability or willing to use this Verizone? this is just ridiculous..
@xrobevansx on Verizon, calls to the US count as part of your allowance; calls to numbers abroad use Skype credit. Hope that clears things up!
I have a Verizon Blackberry Storm 2 but when trying to download skype onto my phone, I’m only met with a screen that reads “sorry, skype is not available for your phone”.
Skype has listed above that the Storm 2 9550 is supported, but it seems they’re mistaken. :/
Worthless without the ability to use WiFi. The reason I would use it is not to replace my wireless carrier because the call quality is better there if I’m in the network. It’s when I travel outside of my network like in England where you can’t use CDMA or many other countless countries. Put WiFi into the app to make Skype the innovative app that it once was.
SKYPE, technology should not be restricted just because carriers are scared that users may stop using voice and going all full data, perhaps just use wifi to make call. You provided this technology to millions of users on desktops without any problems, why limit it to certain carriers and smartphones?
Providing skype to all smartphones and all carriers is the way to go, im sure Skype, such a big company like you are, can make this happen either way.
I’d like to also add, denying FRING access to Skype shows the users puts a bad image on your company.
This is probably why they started blocking Fring since it would have been a more open competing product.
To be honest, I could not care less about voice calling via skype and saving a few pence since I never user my call allowance anyway. Not having a way of sending text messages via the skype network on my mobile is damn inconvenient though.
Please have a thought for those of us who only use it as a messaging app because it has a widely installed user base. Is there any chance of getting some sort of simple app that does only this and will use wifi when available?
I use Skype for inexpensive calling to landlines within domestic US when I travel, via web-enabled computer. This lets me retain a lower-cost limited minutes cell plan. I just bought a Verizon/Android web-enabled phone and plan. For me, the “elephant in the room” — not very clear in all the posts about Verizon and Skype here — is that when I tried to use Skype via my cell phone app to call a landline in the US, a message popped up telling me *Verizon* call plan would be charged. Yuck!!!
I’m glad Skype has found a way to increase its revenues, but it’s not helping me avoid cell phone callikng minutes on my Verizon plan.
I am about to dump Verizon for Sprint’s Epic 4G which has a front facing camera – which will also mean dumping my Skype International plan which I pay for each month — since it only works with Verizon’s Android phones.
Not knowing if it was Skype’s decision to limit to one carrier, it is unfortunate for us (since Google also threw in the towel), that as technology progresses, it seems that greed is always one step ahead of the curve.
Inability to use Skype over Wi-Fi is retarded and makes Skype Mobile completely useless.
To be fair, I did try international calls over 3G, and the call quality was crappy (I am being kind). The same call made from PC Skype was fine. Android App Integration with phone is also very confusing – I ended up making few international calls directly via cell network before realizing that you have to have Skype Mobile running in background to make it join the party.
The decision to block Wi-Fi is obviously motivated by greed and nothing else. Well, there are ways around all this, not as convenient as it could have been, but neither Skype nor Verizon will be getting my $$ for International calls.
Like the rest of the people on this post that don’t have Verizon I am too troubled by the “only on verizon androids” deal. I hate that; at least make skype app open source so it to be editable and configured for other android phones. I am not happy with this at all! >8(
The app seems to work fine. But as the owner of a new Vz Droid 2, I am irked that I can’t remove the damn Skype App! (or apparently stop it from autoloaing as a background service)!!!
when can i use skype on my samsung galaxy phone?
When will there be a Skype App for the BlackBerry Bold 9700? or is it possible to run an Android Skype App on the BB? Because I really need skype on my BB but as far as I’m concerned there isn’t an App for the BB yet…. let me know, thanks
Dear Skype,
I was so happy to hear that Skype is coming to US Cell phones, but I was so disappointed to see that Skype in only available with Verizon. Like thousands others I do not like Verizon, because of their expensive calling plans, and CDMA system. They do not support SIM Card System phone.
My question to you is ” When are you making Skype available to T-Mobile Network?”
I am big fan of Skype.
I will appreciate your response,
M. Saleem Soomro
(510) 405-0700
http://www.soomro.us