Basking Ridge (ip-192.com): Skype’s popular telephony application is on its way to Verizon Wireless. Nine phone models sold by the carrier in the U.S. will be compatible with the new service, including several Blackberry smart phones and phones running Goggle’s Android software.

The Skype mobile application will allow Verizon data package subscribers to make phone calls to other Skype members at no extra cost. Users can also exchange unlimited instant messages with other Skype users and manage their Skype contact list directly from the mobile application. Calls to international numbers can be made utilizing Skype’s competitive rates instead of Verizon Wireless contract rates.

While Verizon expect to lose some revenue from long distance calls, it expects that its data service will gain extra momentum. "We believe it will be sizable," said Jennifer Byrne, Verizon Wireless' director of new business development.

Verizon Wireless will connect Skype-to-Skype phone calls using its voice network instead of the Internet. "We purposely made the decision to route it over traditional circuit switched because that's what the network was designed for - it was designed for voice," said Skype Mobile's general manager Russ Shaw. Calls made using Skype will not be charged against a users monthly minute allowance.

While some phones will be updated automatically starting March 25, other customers will have to download and install the application to use the new service.

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