Skype, Verizon Wireless Join Forces

Skype and Verizon Wireless have announced that they are joining forces to provide a cheap integrated mobile VOIP solution starting in March of this year.

Skype CEO Josh Silverman and Russ Shaw, VP and GM of Skype mobile

According to the announcement, several BlackBerry and Android phones will come with Skype pre-installed upon purchase from Verizon. All Skype-to-Skype calls will be free, and Skype’s standard low international long distance calling rates will apply, while standard Skype calls will function over the traditional PSTN network.

Some of the phones available in March will be the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm2 9550, Curve 8330, Curve 8530, 8830 World Edition and Tour 9630 smartphones, as well as DROID by Motorola, DROID ERIS by HTC and Motorola DEVOUR.

Perhaps the single biggest factor that will ensure this will be a success is the fact that the Skype apps will always be running, ensuring that you never miss a call – no hoping that you get a push notification in time to close the app you’re working in and start up Skype in time to take the call.

With such a heavyweight in the wireless industry taking such an interest in Skype and putting into good phones which will run Skype to the fullest of its potential, this really makes some noise in the mobile VOIP industry.

Canadian providers will probably be slow to adopt Skype, instead preferring to retain their long-distance voice plan revenue.