3 To Offer Free Mobile Skype For All
In a move touted by 3 UK themselves as “fundamentally changing the way that customers use and pay for mobile communications,” the data-loving mobile provider is freeing up its network to allow anyone with a 3 SIM to make both Skype to Skype calls and use the Skype Instant Messaging service – all for free!
The initial phase begins on May 1st, when all 3 customers on both prepay and contract deals will incur no data charges or require top-up fees for using Skype. Converts will be able to purchase a 3 SIM and speak to anyone else on Skype for free!
The seismic shift occurs in the Summer, when any unlocked 3G handset fitted with a £1.99 3 SIM will immediately be able to make free Skype-to-Skype calls.
The prerequisites are merely that the phone supports 3G, and the network reassures us that ‘the bulk’ of handsets currently available will be supported.
What has prompted such a bold change in direction? Well, 3’s UK CEO Kevin Russell was adamant that the mobile provider landscape today is long overdue for change. They want to force the move from the outmoded and rigid ‘minutes and texts’ template to one of flat-fees, freedom of data usage, and omitting termination rates.
That, and people use way more 3 services in general when they use Skype. They made 10% more voice calls, sent more texts, are big mobile browsers and access other social networking sites like Facebook. All of which take place on 3’s data networks and offer a higher margin.
When drawn on whether 3 was actually providing innovation in the mobile web whilst the iPhone and Safari were reigning supreme, Russell returned to the matter of money:
” We offer solutions at price points to open up the service to millions rather than the hundreds, and providing mass market solutions to revolutionise the industry.”
Whilst not an entirely altruistic act from 3 and Skype, they are certainly blazing a trail in terms of allowing consumers to be free to communicate to whoever they want, wherever they are, in the same way as they do on PCs.
In a philosophical moment at this morning’s press conference, Skype’s president Josh Silverman was very defensive over the reluctance for less visionary providers to embrace the social platform:
“The transmission of communication whether it be synchronous as in a voice call, or asynchronous as in a blog post or an IM, is all just the transfer of 1s and 0s across a network. Skype’s shortcomings on some phone networks are down to carrier policy, not the software’s capability…I find it offensive that they prevent some forms of 1s and 0s such as ours from being transferred, whilst allowing others. What’s the next step, blocking certain websites based on political views?”
This is not, however, an exclusive deal, with 3 rather aspiring to have all mobile operators embrace this data driven change in direction, rather than their adverse reaction to Skype and VoIP in general at present. Remember the ‘Skype embedded in Nokia N97′ announcement? The backlash was severe.
With 3 currently facilitating over 1.5 million Skype minutes on its network each day in the UK, it’ll be exciting to see what opening up free mobile Skype to all and sundry will do.
Tags: 3, free skype, free skype calls, free skype phone, n97, Nokia, skype
[...] today’s ‘free Skype for everyone‘ announcement means that you no longer need a dedicated handset to enjoy VoIP calls on 3, [...]