Skype intros beta Java client for mobiles

I've been waiting to see this for a while now and here it is. Skype is making a push onto standard feature phones with a new mini-version of Skype that's Java-based. The company says there are 50 supported phones right out of the gate; I hit the product page and see support for Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson handsets. Unfortunately, I don't have any from those manufacturers, so I'm unable to test it.

The new offering is severely limited: only folks in Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Sweden and the UK can initiate calls for now. However, Skype users anywhere can receive calls, instant message and see who’s online. I like this concept much better than the dedicated Skype phone, like the one from Netgear I reviewed previously. I'm betting however, that the carriers (at least in the U.S.) won't like the idea as much as I do.