The Skype Mobile Phone
Published by Tripleeagle January 6th, 2008 in Communication, Mobile Phones, VOIP.
Skype, the VOIP service owned by eBay has launched it first official mobile phone with the 3 network.
The Skypephone - which costs only about £50 - is aimed at avid Skype users who want to be able to VOIP for free, on the move. A big “Skype” button which, when clicked, will lead you to your list of contacts, is at disposal under the big, 2 inch screen. The handset has a very basic keypad, comes in black, pink or blue and weighs just 86g. Functions include an MP3 player, mobile TV, games, a web browser and most importantly, the 2 megapixel camera which doesn’t let you use it as a webcam for video calling.
The interface is the same as on your PC but the quality of your conversations aren’t as decent. Another downside is that calls and chat messages are limited on Skype-to-Skype despite having to pay £10 per month to even get anything from Skype. Another bad thing is that you cannot use SkypeOut. The phone was launched on the second of December 2007 in the UK, Australia, Denmark, Italy and Hong Kong.
All in all, it is a good phone but a bit too basic so unless you’re a Skype lover or somebody who will use their mobile phone only for making calls, this handset isn’t worth buying.
Specifications:
• Weight: 86g
• Size: 100 x 44 x 13.6 mm
• Battery Standby: 320 Hours
• Battery Talk Time: 270 Minutes
• Battery Video Talk Time: 170 Minutes
• Screen Size: 2.0” QCIF (176 x 220)
• Colour: 262K
• Internal Memory: 16 MB
• External Memory: expandable to 1GB micro SD
In the box:
• Handset.
• Battery 1150mAh.
• Battery cover (magnetic).
• Personal stereo hands free kit.
• USB cable.
• Mains charger.
• CD–ROM for PC connection.
• 256MB micro SD memory card (no adapter).
• 3 user guide.
• Quick start guide for Skype.
Tariff and Terms & Conditions:
All new customers joining 3 on Pay As You Go will pay one low 12p rate. It’s called Flat12.
• 12p a minute calls to any UK mobile or phone, any time*
• 12p texts to any UK network*
Free Skype-to-Skype calls and instant messages only from the UK or while roaming on 3’s sister network. Available to 3 Pay As You Go customers, subject to activating a minimum £10 top-up and valid for 30 days from activating your last top-up.
Skype-to-Skype calls and instant messages subject to a fair use policy of 4000 minutes of incoming & outgoing calls and 10,000 instant messages per month.
*For calls from the UK to standard rate landlines beginning 01, 02, 03. UK mobiles and inclusive texts are texts sent in the UK to standard UK mobiles.
See three.co.uk for details.
Buying the phone:
1 phone for £49.99
2 phones for £89.99
Contracts available
Price for new phone is same pretty much everywhere. Check auction sites for cheaper offers.
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This was launched back in early November in the UK - when I bought one.
Great, Dan! How is the phone? I know it’s been here a long time but I just joined the blog’s staff and felt it was necessary to review it!
I really wanted one but no SkypeOut calls meant there was no reason to buy it!
anyone know if this product will come to the United States?
I searched for a US version but I didn’t find anything. Probably because no company (such as AT&T) has wanted to “sponsor” or launch it yet!
thanks Triple
No problem, Nextel
Good luck on getting the phone!