Verizon & Skype Announce Unlimited VoIP Calling at MWC 2010

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Last week we told you how Verizon Wireless and Skype have announced a pending MWC 2010 announcement. Well the day of the said even has arrived and the two companies have spilled the beans on their future joint venture.

It looks like Verizon is willing to let its subscribers call their friends as much as they want using Skype over 3G. That’s right Big Red and Skype are committed to launch unlimited VoIP calling over 3G starting with next month.

It looks like Skype will have a new application ready to be installed on future and current 3G smartphones from Verizon Wireless. The two companies have apparently created and “exclusive, easy-to-use Skype mobile offering for 3G smartphones” which will let 3G smartphone users that also have opted for data plans to:

• make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
• call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
• send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
• remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

The key feature here is data plans. You’ll have to sign up for one of those in order to call your friends for free at any time over 3G from Verizon Wireless smartphones.

Most 3G smartphones coming from Verizon will be able to use the Skype apps for free and enjoy unlimited 3G calling, including the “BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630, DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR”.

Of course now we’re looking forward for AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile come up with similar VoIP plans. Do you think they will follow Verizon’s initiative? We’ll be waiting to see them draw up and release their official press statements regarding VoIP calling over 3G.