Low cost calls to landlines and mobiles abroad via Skype now available on 3 in the UK and Ireland

Beginning in October, anyone using a Skype enabled 3 mobile phone (including the groundbreaking 3 Skypephone range, Nokia N95 and Sony Ericsson C902) in the UK and Ireland, will be able to go beyond making Skype-to-Skype calls and sending instant messages. People will now have the opportunity to use their 3 mobile phone to call landlines and mobiles abroad at very low rates using Skype.

This development represents added convenience and huge savings for 3 customers in the UK and Ireland when making international calls from their mobile phone. It also further liberates Skype from the home computer and gives users peace of mind on the amount they spend when calling abroad from their mobiles.

Access to Skype on 3 is already free – there are no internet connection charges, and no calls using Skype are charged to your mobile account. Skype-to-Skype calls and Instant Messaging will also continue to be free – regardless of where the end user is in the world. The new developments mean that people can enjoy Skype’s cheap rates from their mobile phones.

Scott Durchslag, COO of Skype, commented on this move: “Once again, Skype and 3 are delivering unprecedented value to those wanting to keep in touch with friends, family or business contacts abroad. This industry first will liberate individuals in the UK and Ireland to use 3 mobile phones to call whomever they please, regardless of where in the world they may be, and what device they are using.”

Kevin Russell, Chief Executive of 3 UK added: “Although 3 customers enjoy the best value international calling tariffs in the UK, we know that people are apprehensive about using their mobiles to call internationally, especially as international minutes aren’t typically included in mobile calling bundles. Giving 3 customers more ways to discover paid Skype offerings to call mobiles and landlines abroad will open up a new world via your mobile.”

Founded in 2003, Skype is revolutionizing the way people communicate around the world. Skype has more than 338 million registered users globally who use Skype software to communicate for free through voice and video calls as well as instant messages. Skype generates revenue through its premium offerings, such as calls made to and from landlines and mobiles, voicemail, call forwarding, and SMS. Skype is used in almost every country on Earth, and people have made more than 100 billion minutes worth of free Skype-to-Skype calls. Conversations over Skype can take place on computers, mobile devices and Skype Certified™ hardware. Skype certifies and sells hundreds of hardware products from more than 50 partners, and works with hundreds of third-party developers who have created plug-ins to extend Skype’s functionality.

Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY).

Access to a broadband Internet connection is required. Skype is not a replacement for your traditional telephone service and can not be used for emergency calling.

3 is a mobile operator focused on bringing the benefits of the internet to mobile communications. We offer attractive pricing and give our customers the widest choice of ways to stay connected at home or abroad. To do this we're building the UK's best high-speed mobile broadband network. 3 UK is a member of the HWL group of 3G companies, which include 3G operations in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Macau and Sweden.

Source: Skype