iPhones access to Skype

Skype, the popular voice-over-Internet phone service, is about to land on the iPhone today.

Skype, a unit of eBay, is set to announce the availability of its service on the iPhone platform at a press conference at the CTIA Wireless show in Las Vegas.

Users of the iPhone and the iPod Touch will be able to download the Skype app through Apple's iTunes store. Calls to other Skype users will be free, while calls to landlines and mobile phones can be made through Skype's SkypeOut paid service. All calls will need to be made over Wi-Fi and not over AT&T's cellular network.

The rollout trails other voice-over-Internet apps on the iPhone including Fring and Nimbuzz. Skype has been on other platforms such as Windows Mobile and Symbian and most recently on Android. But now, it's finally getting to some of the most popular platforms in the United States. In addition to the iPhone, Skype is expected to make it to BlackBerrys in May.

The iPhone version won't have everything that Skype users are used to. Text messaging, setting up a conference call, purchasing SkypeOut credit directly, file transfers and voice mail are missing. But you can instant-message over the cellular network.

This will be nice, especially for making free international Skype-to-Skype calls. Making a phone call over your PC is not as comfortable as using a device that's an actual phone. For iPod Touch users, it's a good way to jump on the Skype wagon. You just need a headset equipped with a microphone or a stand-alone microphone.

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