Vendor Shape Services claims to have developed a port of its IM+ for Skype service that is optimized for the iPhone.

The IM+ service connects the smartphone into Skype via a web page. The user then can access the service to send IM's and phone calls through Skype. Previously, getting Skype on the iPhone required a fairly complex series of hacks and 3rd-party installations.

But don't go getting too excited, this isn't the magic bullet for unlocking voice call service on the iPhone...

13 Aug 2007

You see, the calls don't actually use the  smartphone's broadband connection for VoIP calls, it redirects the calls through SkypeOut back to your mobile in order to establish the call.

In other words, you need a working voice plan on the iPhone in order to use this.

You can get a free 7-day trial of the software, but after that you'll have to pay $11.95 to use it. Shape Services also offers versions of IM+ Skype for Blackberry, Palm, and Symbian.