Verizon Wireless has announced a new partnership with Skype that will allow customers to use the application on their Verizon Wireless’ smartphones to make unlimited calls to friends, family, and business colleagues around the world.

It also allows hundreds of millions of Skype users around the world to communicate with friends, family and business colleagues in the United States who use Verizon Wireless.

Together the two have created an exclusive, easy-to-use method for customers to:

• make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls to any Skype user around the globe on America’s most reliable wireless network;
• call international phone numbers at competitive Skype Out calling rates;
• send and receive instant messages to other Skype users; and
• remain always connected with the ability to see friends’ online presence.

“Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game,” says John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “For Verizon Wireless’ more than 90 million customers, Skype mobile adds great value because we’re effectively giving customers with smartphones and data plans the option to extend their unlimited calling community to hundreds of millions of Skype users around the globe. And you’re not limited to using a single type of phone; we’ll have nine smartphones ready right at launch in March.”

The best part has to be that it will mean the ability to use Skype on your mobile phone overseas and avoid international calling and data rates by simply connecting to a free wi-fi connection.

The people over at Skype are also excited about the move.

“People want to take their Skype conversations with them wherever they go, whether it’s on a PC, TV or increasingly mobile phones,” adds Josh Silverman, chief executive officer of Skype. “Verizon Wireless will give U.S. consumers the best Skype experience on mobile phones and will truly change the way people call their friends and family internationally.”