Many people all over the web have been speculating on whether or not Skype will be available on the Nokia N97. There were early rumors initially that Skype would not be possible on the N97, causing an uproar amongst prospective buyers and Nokia fans alike. Skype is the leading VOIP company in the world right now, making internet calling possible from one end of the globe to the other.
Thankfully, back in February those rumors were put to rest by Skype and Nokia. Over at Skype’s official blog they put up a press release announcing Nokia’s partnership with Skype. Here’s what they had to say:
Skype and Nokia partner to integrate Skype into Nokia devices
BARCELONA, February 17, 2009 – Skype and Nokia today announced a partnership that will bring the world’s leading Internet communications experience to the Nokia range of mobile computers. Under the terms of the cooperation, Skype™ will be integrated into Nokia devices, starting with the Nokia Nseries. The Nokia N97 flagship device will be the first to incorporate the Skype experience in the 3rd quarter of 2009.
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“Making Skype available everywhere through mobile devices is essential to fulfilling our vision of ‘enabling the world’s conversations’,” said Scott Durchslag, Skype’s Chief Operating Officer. “Collaborating closely with Nokia to preload and integrate our software onto their devices will benefit the many Nokia customers who already use Skype, as it makes Skype easily accessible and simple to use on the go. It will also bring Skype new users who love Nokia’s Symbian S60 experience.”
“With more than 400 million Skype users worldwide, the integration of Skype on Nokia Nseries mobile computers is a significant step in bringing converged Internet experiences from the desktop to the world’s most advanced mobile computer,” said Jose-Luis Martinez, Vice President, Nokia Nseries.
Very cool! So it looks like quarter 3 of this year is when we’ll see this integration. Since the N97 is shipping sooner rather than later, we might have to wait for a firmware update to see this Skype and Nokia partnership go into affect. I say firmware update instead of simply installing a file because it seems Skype will be completely wired into the N97 contact application. Here’s another paragraph from that press release where it’s mentioned:
The Skype experience will be part of the address book of the Nokia N97, enabling presence – seeing when Skype contacts are online – as well as instant messaging. Nokia N97 owners around the world will also be able to use 3G and WLAN to easily make and receive free Skype-to-Skype voice calls, in addition to low-cost Skype calls to landlines and mobile devices.
I really can’t wait to see how smooth this integration. Having a fully featured Skype application running on the Nokia N97 will be great for travelers and folks who talk to friends and family overseas.
3rd Party Skype Solutions
For now you can use the Nimbuzz application for your basic Skype needs. Nimbuzz allows you to call and chat with Skype, and it’s free. You also can chat with your other accounts such as Yahoo, Gtalk, Windows Live, Facebook, AIM, Myspace, ICQ, and many more. Right now Nimbuzz is the best instant messenger solution for the Nokia N97. I’ll save screenshots and details for another article, for now click here to check out Nimbuzz.
If you know of any other Skype applications that work with the Nokia N97 drop us a hint below.
Related Articles:
- Official N97 Firmware 2.0 Information From Nokia Employee, Available In Coming Weeks
- Free Skype Calls FOREVER: N97 UK Users Rejoice
- Free Nokia N97 Application: Calc Touch – A Calculator Alternative
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Mike has written 84 articles for your enjoyment.
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About: Mike is the editor-in-chief of N97fanatics.com and a huge mobile fanatic. He also runs MaemoFanatics.com and the popular E71fanatics.com. Contact him via email at contact@n97fanatics.com or at his Twitter page.
