San Francisco: Verizon Wireless, the largest US mobile-phone carrier, will include Skype Technologies SA's calling service on handsets such as the BlackBerry to fend off competition from AT&T.
The service will work on Verizon's third-generation network, on phones including Motorola Droid and Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry Storm, Verizon and Skype said in a statement. Customers need a data plan to use the service.
Verizon Wireless, based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is relying on 3G data plans for growth as demand slows for voice calls.
Teaming with Skype could draw new users, who might boost spending on extra features. Last year, Skype started a service for Apple's iPhone, offered by AT&T exclusively in the United States.
"What mobile operators are realising is they can gain great benefits by partnering with Skype," Skype chief executive officer Josh Silverman said yesterday in an interview on Bloomberg Television.
"Over 15 per cent of all iPhones now have Skype downloaded on it, so there's huge demand."
Skype, based in Luxembourg, sees "explosive growth" potential from the mobile industry, Silverman said.
Setting the trend
The Verizon agreement sets the stage for similar deals with other carriers, Vanessa Alvarez, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan in Boston, said last week.
AT&T's iPhone subscribers can use the Skype service only when they are in Wi-Fi hotspots.
Skype said this month that a version of Skype for the iPhone that works over AT&T's 3G phone network is coming "soon."
Spokesman Chaim Haas said nothing has changed since that announcement.
