Skype has a free application for Google Android… but it’s chat only. You can’t make or receive voice calls yet, although a job posting spotted by Android Community seems to suggest that could change soon. In the meantime, if you want to use Skype to make and receive calls on your Android phone without using talk time on your mobile plan, you can use Fring.
Fring is a free, third party application that lets you chat or make voice calls with your Fring and Skype contacts. There are Fring clients for Symbian, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Java, Linux, and Android phones. But up until today the Android client was rather limited. You could call or chat with people already in your Skype contact list, but there was no dial pad — which meant you couldn’t actually dial a phone number unless it was already in your address book.
Today Fring released an updated version of its Android software. And probably the biggest change is the addition of a dial pad. Now you can call any number, and either hit the phone button to dial the number using your phone plan, or hit the SKP button to make the cal over Skype — using SkypeOut credit.
You can use Fring to make calls over WiFi or 3G connections.
The new version of Fring for Android also has a redesigned buddy screen with pictures and “mood lines” from your contacts. Users can also personalize their profiles from their handsets.
The update also lets you add links in the chat screen, and Fring says voice quality has also been improved.
Fring for Android is available as a free download from the Android Market.
via Android Central
this is what I've been waiting for to save minutes on my nexus one. woot