Skype coming to iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones

Reuters is reporting that Skype, the popular free Internet telephone platform, will launch its service for iPhone and iPod Touch users on Tuesday at the 2009 CTIA Wireless show. The publication is also reporting that the service will be launched on BlackBerry smartphones in May.

Skype, which is owned by eBay, is trying to push beyond desktop computers, where more than 400 million users have signed up for its service. Skype COO Scott Durchslag said that he has high hopes for the iPhone application. "The No. 1 request we get from customers is to make Skype available on iPhone. There's a pent-up demand," he said.

Previously, the company announced plans to integrate the service on Nokia NSeries smartphone devices. On Nokia devices, users will be able to make Skype calls using 3G or WiFi data connectivity.

The iPhone application will not support video calling, and Durchslag says the company is "considering video carefully but we have a really high bar on the quality."