Three
Skypephone S2

The 3 Skypephone S2 was a follow-up to the original 3 Skypephone, and represented a continued collaboration between the mobile network operator "3" (Hutchison 3G) and the Voice over IP (VoIP) service Skype. It was designed to make Skype calls easily accessible without needing a computer, integrating the service directly into the phone's core functionality. The phone was made by Chinese manufacturer ZTE. The S2 had a candy bar-style design. It was relatively compact and lightweight for its time, and its plastic casing was typical of mid-range phones of the era. The phone ran on a proprietary operating system, and the core feature was the built-in Skype functionality, which was powered by the iSkoot for Skype platform. Users could make free Skype-to-Skype calls and send free Skype instant messages to other Skype users over 3's 3G network, without these calls counting against their data allowance, which was a significant selling point at the time. Calls to landlines and other mobile phones via SkypeOut were also supported, at Skype's usual rates. The phone also featured a 3.2-megapixel camera which offered basic photo taking. The 3 Skypephone S2 had a mixed reception. While the concept of free Skype calls was appealing, the phone's overall functionality was limited compared to the rapidly evolving smartphone market. The original Skypephone was groundbreaking because it presented a new way to use VoIP on a mobile device. By the time the S2 arrived, the novelty had worn off somewhat, and smartphones with Skype apps were becoming more affordable and accessible. The S2 was more of an iterative improvement than a revolutionary device.