Skype has demonstrated a version of its iPhone App that will run in background under the new iPhone OS 4.0, enabling users to be always able to receive incoming calls and messages: so long as they have WiFi access.

Skype has scrapped its clients for Windows Mobile smartphones - Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Phones saying they failed to deliver "a great Skype experience".

The largest mobile network operator in the US, Verizon Wireless with more than 90 million customers has formed a relationship with Skype under which Skype functionality will be made available on a range of Smartphones on the Verizon network.

Enthusiastic cellular operators hoping to upgrade to long term evolution (LTE) and their equally enthusiastic vendors have been cheerfully talking up the bandwidth capabilities of the technology to dizzying heights. Verizon Wireless has brought some reality to the situation, announcing what users can expect to get on its LTE network.

Verizon is planning to open many of its U.S. Wireless stores as early as 7 A.M. tomorrow morning (Friday in the U.S.) for early adopters of the new Droid smartphone. The marketing effort will also feature interactive billboards in New York's Times Square.

Wireless provider Verizon has added three pay-as-you-go data plans to its Mobile Offerings. The plans will be sold with a USB wireless modem.

In television ads and on the Web, Verizon is positioning its new Droid smartphone to take on the iPhone directly. The ads start with an "iDon't" list of what the iPhone can't do, followed by a list of what the Droid can.

Verizon Wireless - the largest mobile network operator in the US with 290 million customers - has given the Android smartphone platform a major boost by teaming up with Google to offer Android-based smartphones to customers on its CDMA EV-DO network.