Skype signs up German mobile operator

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 2 Sep 2005 at 16:26

Popular Net phone application maker Skype says it has signed a deal with a German mobile operator to offer a reduced rate data tariff across its network.

Germany's third-largest mobile operator E-Plus is to offer 'all-you-can-eat' data tariffs for €39.95 (£27).

'E-Plus is the first mobile operator to partner with Skype, taking the first step to deliver Skype's vision of making Skype available over any network, including 3G. Now anyone with an E-Plus data flat-rate subscription will be able to enjoy the benefits of Skype's personal communications service when they are on the move in Germany,' said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and Co-founder. 'We look forward to working with other innovative mobile operators around the world to bring the value and convenience of the Skype global Internet communications experience to their millions of mobile phone subscribers.'

It may be Skype's first deal with a mobile telco, but it remains unclear as to how significant the announcement is. Skype is working with a number of phone and device makers such as Motorola, but Skype-ready handsets have yet to launch. A spokesperson for Skype told us that: 'Skype customers can make Skype free, high-quality calls over the E-Plus mobile network using a card which slots into any laptop computer.'

But you can also do this over Orange, Vodafone and any other network that supports data with the same set up.

So it appears the announcement is more bark than bite. The spokesperson described it thus: 'This partnership is significant because it is enabling Skype to tap into the millions of mobile subscribers throughout Germany and offering E-Plus exposure to Skype's nearly 3 million German users.'

E-Plus's subscriber base totals 9.8m. It remains to be seen what the uptake will be, but Skype says it doesn't have any expectations on user figures as yet.

As for the €39.95 tariff, it looks competitive, but difficult to compare with that offered by other networks. Orange told us that data pricing depends on the contract, bundle deal. Additionally, most of the interest in data tariffs comes from corporates we were told, in which case rates are negotiated.