Verizon Wireless has partnered with Skype on a Skype mobile application that will launch on smartphones in March.

The move makes Verizon the first major U.S. carrier to offer Skype to its mobile users. The Skype mobile app is for smartphone users who have a data plan with Verizon.

Initially, Skype mobile will be available on smartphones with data plans including the BlackBerry Storm 9530, Storm 2, Curve, Droid by Motorola, Droid Eris by HTC and Motorola Devour.

Key features of Skype mobile include:

*Make and receive unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls globally

*Make international calls at lower calling rates

*Instant messaging to other Skype users

"Skype mobile on Verizon Wireless changes the game.  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," said John Stratton, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless.