Right now, only phones on the American Verizon network can use the Skype Android app, although there is talk of Skype expanding that offering to all Android phones in multiple countries.

When I reported on the KDDI/Sharp press conference unveiling au’s IS03 smartphone, I neglected to report on what (at the time) sounded like a throwaway comment by KDDI’s Tanaka Takashi, that there will be a 禁断のアプリ (literally, forbidden (as in fruit) app) at the time of the phone’s release. Speculations abound in the more geeky, tech-related segment of the Japanese media that this forbidden app is a Skype app that works on a non-American, non-Verizon phone.

Smartphones in Japan suffered from a conspicous lack of features that have prompted many to double-fist their cell phones (with their previously-owned dumbphone in one hand) or hold off on switching; the IS03 seems to be positioned to get those people over to the smart phone world by providing features like IR datacomm, contact-less IC payment, and decorative texts. Putting Skype on the IS03 would also convince many more to switch to Android from the iPhone.