Skype comes to Nokia smartphones, companies say

(Skype)

Mobile phone giant Nokia said on Wednesday that its smartphone users could begin making free calls after it teamed up with Internet phone pioneer Skype which permits free calls.

"Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia smartphone users worldwide to use Skype on the move, over either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G)," Nokia said in a joint-statement with Skype.

Nokia has faced rising competition in the smartphone market.

Industry observers have said that the outdated Symbian operating system, which drives most of its smartphones, is one of the reasons many consumers prefer Apple's iPhone or Research in Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry, which are easier to use.