However, if you’re a BlackBerry user there’s no need to get angry. Today, Skype announced that its Skype Lite version for mobile phones will soon be available on BlackBerry as well. The service will be available for download at no charge. Most likely, BlackBerry users will be able to download it as soon as May from www.skype.com/m using BlackBerry Browser. The first BlackBerrys that will support the Skype will be the Bold and the Curve, while other models will get it later, the company said. 

 

Skype is already available for Android, Java, Symbian, and Windows Mobile. Wonder why they let RIM the last of the chain, it’s certainly not the weakest. 

 

With Skype on your mobile phone, you will be able to call other mobile Skype users at no additional charge anywhere in the world, use instant messenger and SMS features, make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones, see when your Skype contacts are online and available for chat, but there are a series of features that won’t be available in the Lite version of Skype. Don’t expect to share photos because features such as file transferring won’t be available on the BlackBerry platform, at least for now. 

 

You won’t need a Wi Fi link to call through Skype. The device’s data plan will be enough for Skype as long as you have one. Nevertheless, you’ll save a considerable amount of money chatting with your Skype contacts through the service as it has no additional costs and the fact that your Skype connection will work wherever your handset works makes it more practical that the recently-release iPhone platform. 

 

For calling Skype contacts you won’t have to pay Skype anything, but your mobile operator will still charge you for local air time or data usage based on your calling service and data plan. You’ll only pay the Skype rates (traditionally very low) when you call landlines and mobiles using Skype and also when you receive calls from other Skype users or people calling your personal online number

 

The Skype Lite for BalckBerry will initially be available in ten countries: Australia, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United States and the UK. As expected, the first language supported will be English, with other languages to follow soon.