what about the rest of us :(

pretty sweet

Finally. This is going to be great. I hope though it comes to other carriers so I can use it with my friends on them. Good job Verizon. Slowly but surely you are making me more confident in my decision with staying with you.

So wait, Only Verizon is going to get Skype support? LAME!

Awesome!

well, it's a start.

WOW!!!!
That is news in itself that they get something first!

there is nothing new here at all.. iskoot, IM+ already do this functionality

Read the alleged "featurres"..You cannot make calls except by using your minutes on the cellphone network.. this is as far from skype as you can get...VoIP this is NOT.

Get this out for WiFi and THEN start saying you have something worthwhile..

I'm blown away by this. We've all been screaming for a skype program for Blackberry and it ends up being for verizon? What about AT&T?

You can't tell me that there are more Bb users on cdma than on all the carriers that are gsm (90% of the world).

What gives?

In reading through this I notice it doesn't say Skype can be used to call domestic landlines. If not, that is a huge limitation.

very cool Verizon!!

It's about time! My entire business phone structure is centered around Skype. Now I get to have a tiny calling plan and save hundreds a year.

I'm not sure if this is a smart move financially for Verizon, but then again, I'm sure there are enough stupid people in the world just buying unlimited plans and using 200 minutes.

I can wait, and I hope no extra cost, right?

WRONG... do not be fooled by Verizon/skype. They are in it for the same reason as every1 else. $MONEY$

Are you able to use Verizon apps like this and Verizon Navigator on non-verizon phones?

I call bullshit... Why is Skype teaming up with Verizon?? Why not just release the damn thing for Blackberry. This will be a watered down version that will probably use your Verizon minutes. Why else would they be promoting it?? It's directly against Verizon's business model.

Finally. iPhone had this for so long. Now they need it for the DSi.

I can't believe this is finally coming to reality. It's over a year since Skype promised coming on Blackberry and finally for VZW customers it's almost here. I hope March 2010 doesn't become March 2011 again. VZW thanks for looking out for your customers.

While I am happy for Verizon customers, I am wondering why Skype would attempt to limit this app, which is used by so many people across the world who have never even heard of Verizon.

Yeah, pretty cool if you are on verizon, and being able to make skype calls over your data plan is a pretty good start... now enable skype over wifi as well and that would be killer. BUT what I really wanna see is how google voice will respond, especially since they recently bought an open standard voip company (Gizmo5) that provided a similar service to skype... Can you imagine free voip calling over data AND wifi with google voice? Hey, I'm just saying... ;)

New beta OS and Skype?! I don't think this day can get any better.

Interesting...the press release lists 8330 and 8830 but those devices are both absent from the "compatible Devices" list on Verizon's web site.

If this is just an application, why cant it be taken and used for other carriers? A verizon bb and a sprint bb run the same os. I agree with the above post, there has to be watered down or some how integrated into the verizon to make it an "exclusive" application that will only work on verizon phones.

But if it is "exclusive", just wait a week and someone will have taken it and hacked it in some way to work on other carriers. It only took 1 day after the original iphone launched before it was hacked and running on other networks.

Take that Luke Wilson! lol. What other network would your blackberry be on? T-Mobile? Okay.. maybe. Sprint... eh, don't even get my started on the AT&T Notwork...

Let's face it, every network sucks in one way or another.. I've always been able to get my way more with VZW. They aren't perfect, but they aren't horrible.

Attn: SKYPE When will you have an app with video call option?

It's 2010, weren't there supposed to be flying cars by now?

Just another reason I am super glad that I switched from AT&T to Verizon last year!!

I stand corrected. According to this article skype to skype is both free from skype and doesn't use cellular minutes. Also, calls outside US has a skype fee only but doesn't use cell minutes. However, skype to regular US numbers will use the cell minutes and of course requires skype out plan. Unfortunately, the skype verizon app does not include wifi. Finally, AT&T will now allow it to run not just on wifi but on cellular but skype hasn't announced that app yet.

Verizon to allow Skype calls over wireless network
by AP:
SAN FRANCISCO – Verizon Wireless will let customers use the Internet phone service Skype to make free calls on some phones, an application that wireless carriers have been slow to allow.

Under a deal announced Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress trade show, users of some Verizon phones who have a voice and data plan will be able to download a free Skype application in late March. That will let them call or instant-message other Skype users for free or call regular phone numbers outside the United States for a fee paid to Skype. These calls would go over Verizon's network and would not use up minutes on a cell phone plan.

Minutes would be deducted, however, to use Skype to call regular phone numbers in the U.S., Verizon said.

Initially, the mobile application will be available for nine Verizon phones, including several BlackBerry models and Motorola Inc.'s Droid and upcoming Devour handsets.

John Stratton, Verizon's chief marketing officer, said the application will be able to run all the time in the background. This means other people should be able to contact you through Skype even if your phone is on standby.

Other wireless carriers have blocked the Skype app from running all the time. It's available on the iPhone only in Wi-Fi hot spots. In October, AT&T said it would relent and let the program work over its cellular network as well, but Skype has not yet released an application to enable that. Verizon's version of Skype mobile will not work over Wi-Fi, the companies said.

I'm wondering if this is a move to get folks to buy into a data plan. Verizon has been pushing it's smartphones pretty hard I'm sure it's the mandated data plan that comes with them that generates a good chunk of cash for them.

On aside I'm wondering how they will track local calls vs long distance calls form skype? I wonder if skype will provide that data to Verizon?

"The Nations Most Reliable 3G" is data coverage. So when you fire up Skype you will be ticking away at the 5GB "unlimited" data cap, NOT your calling minutes.

Let me say that again, IMO this will be using 3G DATA, not calling minutes.

Its the only thing that makes sense right now. Verizon teamed up with Skype on this to sell more smart phones and get those data subscriptions. Everybody knows Skype by now. Smart move. If they were smart, they would leave the WiFi option available and then use the 3G on the go.

-Fin-

-BeeRad
@techjunky79

oh nice, only 12 months after they said it would be here

lol i just read the part about only being able to make calls over the cell plan...lol skype, you are dying, ebay bought you, doesn't want you, and nobody uses you. you have totally failed to make yourself relevant by making useless addons and cool looking logos. you fail.

Taken from Skype's website :

"Coming soon: Skype on America’s most reliable wireless network.

Skype and Verizon Wireless are set to launch a new service, Skype mobile™ that enables customers to use Skype on a variety of best-selling Verizon Wireless BlackBerry® and Android™ 3G Smartphones.

In addition to free Skype-to-Skype global calling and low rates to international landlines and cell phones, Skype will be ‘always on’, meaning customers can receive Skype calls, instant messages and see friends’ presence anytime. And, Skype usage won’t be charged against customers’ monthly Verizon Wireless data plans or minute allowances."

Now they basically say that it will work over... wifi! I think I'll wait for some more news... they don't seem to be set already.

For all those here who think this is true VoIP. Do you really think Verizon is going to give up more than half of their revenue of their wireless business. Look, big V doesn't even allow you to surf the web while you are on a call. Wait up people. All businesses are like that, they are going to milk their customers as much and as long as they can.

Awesome! I will be thrilled to have that available on my Tour.

I was an early adopter of Skype, but as time has gone on, I've left it behind.
No support for any of the various mobile devices I've used, still no ability to get a skype-in number in Canada, and tons of annoying new pop-up ads in the newer desktop versions.

And of course Vendor specific deals REEK of extra fees.
Oh yeah, and CDMA is dying, and I don't have Verizon.

Who'd have thought that something I likely would have killed for 18 months ago is now barely worth my posting this rant?

I made the move to Google Voice, and I'm not likely to look back.

I would not worry. Verizon is just the first to come to terms with Skye. I just read an article that AT&T had some bandwidth concerns and Skype is working through it. For those who are unfamiliar with press releases, let me interpret. "Good news! Our core bread and butter has been voice plans, but in the new world of SMS and mms, that stream is not reliable any longer. Thanks to Skype, we can hope to force you to use more minutes. Since the unlimited plans are for voice only and does not include text, we bet you won't change."

Haha... For all of those who still stick with BB and verizon, slowly but surely we get rewarded.

It is not a true VoIP. However, international calls over Skype will have free Verizon air time minutes where as domestic calls over Skype still have the air time minutes deducted. This is Verizon move to get the business of those calling cards. Not something out of kind heart.