Some users of 2006 and 2007 models of mainstream cell phones can now download Skype. Support for more recent cell phones should be coming soon.
Following recent moves to extend Skype conversations to a wide variety of new mobile and wireless devices, Skype is taking another major step as it continues to merge its internet communications software with mobile phones. Today, the company released a beta version of Skype for your mobile, a mobile "thin" client that works on about 50 of the most popular Java-enabled mobile phones from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.
The beta version of Skype for your mobile is available worldwide with a feature set that includes chat, group chat, presence, and receiving calls from Skype users, and through SkypeIn. Additional features of the Skype client, includes the making of Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls from the mobile handsets, initially supported in seven markets: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK.
Skype's Gareth O'Loughlin admits that it's still the early days for making Skype calls on mobile phones, but thinks the beta period will prove valuable in terms of user feedback. Nonetheless, the product underscores Skype's commitment to putting Skype conversations in the pockets of today's mobile masses.
With its beta version, the Skype client for your mobile enters a public testing phase that will help Skype gauge the response of technology-savvy users whose feedback will help tweak the offering. This phase is expected to last several months, after which a public version of the application will be made available to millions of mobile phone owners around the world.
There are two ways to get the beta version of Skype for your mobile: as a direct over-the-air download from Skype's website to a compatible phone, or it can be downloaded to a computer and then transferred to the phone. A list of currently supported mobile phones and everything else you need to know can be found here, while additional phones and markets will be added over time.
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