Mobile phone and PDA manufacturer i-mate and Internet telephony provide Skype Technologies have announced the first wireless mobile handsets preloaded with the Skype Voice over IP (VoIP) software.
The newly launched i-mate PDA2K handsets will be produced with Skype's software preloaded, enabling i-mate owners to use Skype immediately on start-up of their device.
The handset is a dual mode GSM/GPRS Wi-Fi device that will, with the Skype included, allow users to make free voice calls over the Internet to other Skype users, wherever they are in the world.
i-mate founder and chief executive, Jim Morrison, said,
"In line with our continuing commitment to provide customers with the value added benefits they require, this partnership with Skype is a natural way for i-mate to deliver to its customers a fully functional global VoIP service. As i-mate grows across the world we are dedicated to meeting our customers' needs in providing them with only the best available services, Skype, we believe, is one of those."
While Niklas Zennstrom, Skype CEO and co-founder said,
"Skype is committed to working with like-minded companies to innovate and expand platform choice and communications mobility for all our users. Our partnership with i-mate is a step forward for offering Skype on a variety of wireless-enabled devices."
New i-mate handset owners now have the ability to make voice calls over the Internet, through Wireless LAN, to other Skype users free of charge.
The VoIP market has grown rapidly, as both individuals and businesses alike need new communication options, at reduced prices.