By Charlene O'Hanlon

Users of Grandstream Networks IP phones now can add the term, Skype me” to their vernacular.

The IP voice/video solutions and IP surveillance vendor has forged a deal with Skype whereby Grandstreams GVX3140 IP multimedia phone now incorporates native Skype embedded software to enable video calling without using a PC. Users now can send and receive free video calls to and from the phones.

The Skype-enabled Grandstream GXV3140 is the industrys first desktop IP multimedia phones compatible with both Skype and SIP open standards for voice and video calling, according to Grandstream. No service contract or additional monthly fee is required to use Skype for video calling, the company noted.

Skype certification on the GXV3140 IP multimedia phone creates a seamless video-enabled communications experience from PC to desk phone, giving Skype users the utmost flexibility and convenience for video calling,” said David Li, CEO of Grandstream Networks in a release. Grandstreams GXV3140 bridges the gap between convenient-to-use, dedicated voice/video endpoints and the increasingly popular world of PC-based Internet multimedia communication offerings like Skype.”

This isnt Grandstreams first partnership with Skype. Earlier this year, the company earned Skype Connect certification for its IP-PBX and gateways, which allow business users to receive calls through their Grandstream IP PBX from Skype users around the world.

We value our strategic relationship with Skype and look forward to bringing more devices with Skype integration to market in the future,” Li said.