Free Skype Calls & Messages from 3UK – No Top-up or Contract required!

Mobile network innovators 3UK have announced today that from 1st May you will be able to make free Skype to Skype calls over the 3 network with no top-up or contract required.

To start with any compatible 3 mobile handset will be able to make free Skype to Skype calls with no financial commitment, and then from the summer ANY compatible unlocked 3G handset with a 3SIM inside will also be able to take part.

By removing access and pricing barriers to Skype-to-Skype calls 3 UK is creating a compelling reason for new customers to join 3 and to enjoy all the services available on the UK’s biggest mobile broadband network.

This is a brave move by the mobile operator, opening up their network, and asking nothing for it. But then embracing the new communications era is something that 3 have been leaders in for some time, with X-Series in 2006, the 3 Skypephone in 2007, followed by the 3 Skypephone S2 last year and of course Mobile Broadband.

In future you will be able to buy a 3 SIM for unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls for less than the price of a cup of coffee and talk for as much as you want without ever paying us another penny. We won’t ask you for a top-up or a monthly commitment. If you want to talk on a mobile for free, just join us and give it a go. This is for everyone

Where other networks only allow Skype Apps to use WiFi so that its doesn’t eat into their precious calls revenue (here’s looking at you o2/iPhone), 3 see this as a way to get more people onto their network to use their other services (ie data).

This is also great news for Skype, as this will no-doubt expand the user base of the popular and growing Internet voice chat service, and bring more people away from the (mainly geeky) desktop service.