Skype has announced a deal with Hutchison that will allow VoIP calls to be made using 3G networks.

The deal will see Hutchison customers signing up for a package with 3G data cards and Skype software on an unlimited data tariff. Trial schemes have already been set up with 3 in Sweden and E-Plus in Germany.

"There is a huge amount of unlocked demand in our network to have Skype on mobile," Saul Klein, vice president of marketing for Skype, told vnunet.com.

"For operators and handset manufacturers Skype has an amazing early adopter base who are first in line for trying data tariffs. Traditionally mobile operators have not had success with data packages."

Skype now has 75 million users worldwide and the mobile customers will have the same user experience as PC users, according to Klein, including the ability to see whether other Skype users are online.

"Skype on 3G smartphones, data cards and other devices is a service that our customers will be thrilled to use," said Christian Salbaing, managing director of European telecoms at Hutchison 3.

"It will be a great addition to our existing range of multimedia mobile broadband services. We look forward to offering it to our subscribers in our key markets starting with Sweden and then in our other markets as soon as user trials are concluded."