Rating: VoIP doesn't cannibalise revenues says 3
To further concrete its alliance with Skype, UK mobile operator, 3, has struck a deal whereby anyone with a 3G phone can use Skype for free after purchasing a £1.99 SIM card. Unlockers will rejoice.
The move means if any of your mates have Skype working, you can talk to them from a mobile phone and pay absolutely nothing. You won't even have to use text, if you utilise Skype Chat for messaging.
Sounds unbelievable? Well, 3 has found that regular Skype users with its handsets are less likely to 'churn' than non-Skype users; make more voice calls; and are higher margin customers because they use the Internet.
So, 3 hopes to tempt new prepaid customers onto its network through this deal. 3 UK CEO, Kevin Russell, explained that even if 100 per cent of all £1.99 SIM card purchasers never use anything else, 3 still won't be losing money.
That's because there are no 'termination fees' to pay to other network operators for connecting a Skype call. Plus, the Skype app makes use of spare voice capacity which would otherwise go unused.
The bizarre aspect to this whole scenario is that 3 Skype users can't make Skype video calls. Even though virtually every 3 handset in circulation has a built in front-facing camera.
That's because Skype doesn't support video over mobile networks. As Skype CEO, Josh Silverman, hinted – if you want to do that use Wi-Fi instead. Strange but true.
Buried amongst Kevin Russell's hints was evidence that 3 is planning another Skypephone for Q4 2009. And, if I understood him correctly, it could cost as little £40 (as opposed to around £70 now).
Getting Skype on an unlocked handset will be easy. Insert the SIM and wait for the network to identify your phone and send you a text. That will invite you to download all the necessary settings (including the correct APN).
Then you get a second text inviting you to download the appropriate Skype client for your handset – say a Nokia N95. You don't even pay for the download.
Given the minimum outlay required, those with existing 3G handsets will be very interested in getting it unlocked. Apparently, Nokias and Sony Ericssons are the ones to go for.
*Filed using my 3 mobile broadband dongle!
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