Skype on Mobile - Cash Cow or Trojan Horse ?

3 UK launched the first Skypephone today.....is this a good idea for 3, and what does it mean for the industry overall?

For 3 its...."interesting". Blognation opines that :

There are some unsolved questions; there is an inevitable tension created by having two communication systems sitting side by side on the same device, with revenue from each of them going to different parties. Every time I use Skype on my phone, I am depriving Three of revenue from chargeable minutes. This will be exacerbated when SkypeOut is available - it is in direct competition with Three

This also pokes Blyk in the business model, as who wants Ads on a phone if you can call for near gratis without them?

As pointed out in the publicity statement, its pretty low cost - in the UK, the handset will be £49.99 to buy on a PAYG tariff or free on a contract for a minimum of £12 / month including 100 minutes and texts, up to c £27 for 1100 minutes (which at that price is near as damnit free anyway, so 3 UK may as well give 'em Skype to boot and get the buzz).

The real winner here initially is Skype, who get the mobile extension to their service they have always needed, and probably a better way of monetising than off all us cheapskate PC users who don't pay a bean for Skype transport. Whether they stay winners when no-one uses Skype In/Out 'cos they all have Skypemobiles is another matter.

The guys left with the bigger problem however are the other mobile operators, as it seems pretty clear that highly priced roaming is not going to be an option much longer, and in that sense its a Trojan Horse for the industry as a whole.

O2 especially is in an "interesting" position, as on the 9th it will start to sell the iPhone, which as a 'web device par excellence should easily run Skype - ne c'est pas?

Whether its a cash cow for 3 or Skype is another matter, but it certainly is disruptive. And if you are 3 or Skype you have far less to lose from disruption then the Big 4 - but then you have less to start with, so will it be a race to the bottom of the pockets?.

Interesting times.....

(Disclosure - was invited to launch today, couldn't make it)