According to a Tuesday announcement, at the CTIA Wireless conference, Verizon Wireless said that Thursday, March 25, onwards, the users of Verizon smartphones will be able to download and use the Skype Mobile application which will enable them to make free calls and send instant messages to Skype users.

The nine Verizon handsets on which the Skype Mobile app will work include - the BlackBerry Storm; the BlackBerry Storm2; the BlackBerry Curve; the BlackBerry Curve 8530; the BlackBerry Tour; the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, the Motorola Droid, the Droid Eris; and the Motorola Devour - which will launched alongside the Skype for Verizon app.

The `free' Skype Mobile application can be downloaded from the Marketplace by Verizon Android subscribers; while the current BlackBerry users can download it from `Skype' icon on the handset screen, and new BlackBerry customers will find the application in the download folder on the device's home screen.

Noting that Skype-to-Skype calls made using Skype Mobile will be routed over the Verizon network, John Harrobin - Verizon's Senior VP of digital media and marketing, said that the app will run in the background; thereby meaning that it will be "always on."

Harrobin further said that "Skype mobile . is an exclusive app to Verizon"; and added that "the features and functionality that you'll see on Skype mobile, you won't see anywhere else. It'll be the best mobile experience out there."