Skype comes to Symbian smartphones

Skype for Symbian available for selected Nokia handsets

Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia users to access Skype on the move

Skype and Nokia have announced the release of Skype for Symbian, a new client for Nokia smartphones.

The free download is available through Nokia's Ovi Store, and will allow users to access Skype on the move through a Wi-Fi or other mobile data connection.

Skype for Symbian offers free Skype-to-Skype calls, instant messaging and presence availability.

"With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move," said Russ Shaw, general manager for mobile at Skype.

"Alongside Skype's relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer."

Skype for Symbian will work initially on smartphones using Symbian ^1, but Skype said that it will soon release a version of the application aimed at other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson.

"Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and services," said Jo Harlow, senior vice president for smartphones at Nokia.

"We are seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now, and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users."

A list of supported handsets is available at the Skype web site.