iSkoot brings Skype to Treo smart phones

iSkoot the Sype-on-mobile-phones company has brought its VoIP software to Palm's Treo 650 and 700p, the firm announced this week even as it extended its network coverage to dozens of countries outside the US.

iSkoot's goal is to bring Skype to a wide variety of mobile phones not running Windows Mobile 5.0, an operating system the VoIP pioneer already caters for. While the iSkoot messaging application is free to download, iSkoot takes a cut from the charges the user incurs when its software connects over the cellular network, whatever that is. In particular, iSkoot is targetting devices that lack the Wi-Fi capability needed to contact Skype's network directly.

Calls to other Skype users are free beyond the data-call charge, but SkypeOut calls are billed at the usual SkypeOut rate. Recieving a Skype call from another Skype users is also charged to the recipient's account at the SkypeOut rate, iSkoot said.

In addition to the Treo 650 and 700p, iSkoot's software will run on the Sony Ericsson v600i and w600i; the Nokia 6021, 6102, 6600, 6680, 6682 and 6030; and the Motorola Razr V3, Slvr L7, Pebl and v557.

iSkoot has said it will have a BlackBerry version available by the end of the year, and it also plans to support GoogleTalk and other instant messaging services in the same timeframe.

The software is available now from iSkoot's website. ®