Top News

Consumers Protest Apple's Working Conditions

T-Mobile Offers Free 4G Phones for Valentine's Day

Sprint Comes Up Short on IPhone

Apple Not Improving Factory Conditions, Teen Worker Says

Hackers Get Greedy, Extorts Symantec

More News >

The Basking Ridge, N.J.-based company said the change applies to users who have some Verizon phones -- nine smartphones, including several BlackBerry models and Motorola's Droid and upcoming Devour handsets -- and a voice and data plan, resulting in possibly large savings on domestic and foreign calls by using data rather than voice minutes.

Other carriers had blocked Internet calling services, setting off a Federal Communications Commission investigation into discriminatory practices against certain types of Internet traffic and anticompetitive behavior in the industry.

Many wireless operators have been fiercely against Voice over Internet Protocol -- or VoIP -- services because it directly challenges their wireless calling business and adds extra strain on their data networks.

In recent weeks, AT&T said it would allow iPhone owners to use Internet calling services like Google Voice and Skype and television-viewing programs like SlingPlayer Mobile over its 3G network.

Verizon customers will be able to download a free Skype application -- able to run in the background -- starting late March. Its version of Skype will not work over Wi-Fi.