Nokia angers operators with Skype handsets

25 February 2009

O2 and Orange fear lost revenue from Skype internet calls

Nokia's plans to integrate Skype in all its future Nseries handsets has infuriated operators who are worried about potential lost revenue from cheap calls made through Skype, as well as Nokia's perceived attempt to own the customer.

According to Mobile Today, an ‘operator source' said it was another example of Nokia trying to build an ecosystem that's all about Nokia and reducing the operator to a ‘dumb pipe'.

Nokia's Skype plans have split the operators - T-Mobile and 3 support it, while O2 and Orange have vented their anger at the plans in high-level group discussions. They're pretty against it, basically

So much so that O2 and Orange may both refuse to carry the N97, due for a June launch?