Verizon Wireless and Skype debuted Skype Mobile to give consumers the opportunity to make free Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world.

?Verizon Wireless and Skype wanted to bring a very cool, exciting application that adds value to smartphones -- and that is Skype mobile,? said Brenda Raney, executive director of corporate communications at Verizon Wireless, New York.

?The app "untethers" Skype users from their PCs and gives them the opportunity to make free Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world," she said. "We think that's pretty cool.?

Skype is software that enables individuals and businesses to make free video and voice calls, send instant messages and share files with other Skype users. People also use Skype to make low-cost calls to landlines and mobile phones.

Here is a screen grab of the application on Android:

Mobile to mobile
Consumers with Android 3G and BlackBerry 3G smartphones can get Skype mobile. Users can visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/skypemobile from a PC to enter the mobile phone number and they receive a text message with a link to the application.

Additionally, consumers can text the keyword SKYPE to short code 2255 to receive the link or Android users can download the application from the Android Market.

Consumers can make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype contact around the world, send and receive unlimited instant messages with other Skype users and manage the Skype contact list directly from the mobile application.

?This has been a great relationship from the very beginning,? Ms. Raney said. ?Together we built this app from the ground up, so it is optimized for Verizon Wireless users.

Here is a screen grab of the application on BlackBerry:

Mobile partnership
Verizon Wireless and Skype announced their partnership last month at the 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where they said that the mobile service would enhances Verizon Wireless smartphones for customers who have data plans, while also giving Skype users worldwide the opportunity to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States using the network (see more).

Consumers need a Verizon Wireless smartphone and data plan to use Skype mobile and Skype-to-Skype calls will not be charged against their monthly minute allowances or data plans.

Currently, Skype mobile is available on nine smartphones, covering the RIM and Android operating system.

Verizon Wireless claims that it is looking into developing the service across other smartphone platforms in the future.

The company also said that Skype users no longer have to rely solely on their PCs to connect with people, they can just use their mobile phone, which will give them access to the service wherever they go.

?Skype is a great company and we look forward to working with them on enhancing Skype mobile for customers,? Ms. Raney said. ?Skype has hundreds of millions of users around the world and Verizon Wireless has tens of millions of customers. 

?That intersection of people who want to use Skype to stay connected, now while mobile, are the people we think will like and use this app,? she said.