Skype soft-launches Skype for Symbian

OBSCURED BY all the razzmatazz surrounding the launch of 3's X-Series handsets, is the fact that on December 1st when 3 goes live with its new service, there will be a version of Skype for Symbian.

At the launch, Niklas Zennström, Skype's CEO is quoted as saying, "With 3, I am very proud to say that for the first time, our users can now try out making Skype calls on the move using a mobile phone."

Industry observers were therefore supposed to surmise from the fact that the X-Series is only available on the Nokia N73 and the Sony Ericsson W950, that there must be a Symbian client available. And only for the N73.

The INQ checked with Skype and a spokesbod said, "This [news] release was issued by Hutchison, not Skype."

So he effectively confirmed it. But, obviously, there's no news as to when existing Symbian phone users might get their hands on the Skype client software.

Talking of VoIP clients, Nokia's N80i will have a built-in VoIP client - just like the E61 - when it eventually ships.

And the client will be available from Nokia's web site - no doubt. Which means existing N80 handset owners will be able to run it and make VoIP calls.

But here in the UK, the N80 is heavily subsidised. And if N80 users start making loads of cheap VoIP calls, then the operators won't get their money back.

So the INQ's tip is to consider the N80 right now before the operators notice. µ