Free Skype calls for Nokia users but O2 says no

Over 200 million Nokia users have been given the opportunity to make free Skype calls to anyone else with Skype in the world provided they have access to a Symbian smartphone. This deal from Nokia means users will undoubtedly be given the freedom to save on their monthly phone bill as they can make use of free phone and text messages.

Specifically, the Skype software needed to make use of this offer will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian 1, the latest version of its operating system with the Skype client available for download from Nokia’s Ovi store.

Earlier in the year Skype made its first deal with a mobile network following an agreement with U.S mobile operator Verizon Wireless. Since the Skype service was born in 2003 it has attracted more than 520 million users. However, so far it has made little impact on the wireless market - presumably because mobile operators see it as a threatening feature to basic voice calls.

In fact, since the Nokia and Skype announcement tech site TechRadar has discovered O2 customers may be blocked from this free deal. According to the site due to the high demand in data usage for these free calls O2 has decided it would be against its policy.

Speaking to TechRadar an O2 spokesperson explained: “We do not as a general rule block access to voice over IP services on our network. However, in the case of unlimited data services such as our data bolt on an iPhone tariffs, VoIP is prohibited within the excessive use policy.” According to the spokesman the O2 unlimited data packages were set up to allow customers to browse the web and access data service such as email without worrying about cost per MB. However, unlimited VoIP calls takes things a bit too far.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if other UK mobile providers offering unlimited data deals take a similar approach to O2 on this.