The 3 Skypephone will be available in the UK from 2 November.

Mobile phone operator 3 and global internet phone provider Skype have joined forces to offer a new handset that allows users to make ‘free’ calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

The unveiling of the 3 Skypephone marks the first time an operator has offered a mass market device which is tailor-made for free calling over the internet from a mobile.

Using the 3 Skypephone, 3’s customers can only make free calls to other Skype users however.

Previously, most of Skype’s 246 million registered users made calls via computers plugged into fixed-line phone connections.

Michael van Swaaij, acting CEO at Skype, commented: “Skype began by offering free PC to PC calling and now we’re doing the same with mobile calls with 3. Thanks to 3, Skype has now taken a giant step forward in the mobile arena.”

The 3 Skypephone will be available this year in the UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden. It will be on sale in 3Stores across the UK from 2 November and from Skype and 3’s websites in time for Christmas.

By Natasha Piscitelli