UPDATE: Will the Skype purchase of Qik limit video service to Verizon customers?

I have been a long time Qik user since they launched a couple years ago on Nokia devices. Thus, I was quite pleased at first when I heard Skype is buying Qik since I was thinking this would mean all of us Android users would get Skype video calling like those with iOS devices. A short while later, my excitement dwindled as I realized that Verizon has a lockdown on mobile versions of Skype here in the US (except for Skype on iOS of course) and no one outside Verizon Wireless customers may see any benefit to this purchase and may actually lose functionality they already have if Qik goes away.

Qik is the video calling/messaging service that launched on the HTC EVO 4G and is heavily promoted by T-Mobile on their new myTouch 4G device. It is a decent service, but the video quality can use some improvements on 3G.

I have Skype on my Nokia N8, but I actually had to take out my T-Mobile SIM card and download it via WiFi because a page came up informing me I had an unsupported phone that wasn't on Verizon when I tried to download Skype with my SIM card in place. The Qik purchase is not yet finalized so all of the details about how Skype will roll in their services is unclear, but it would be a real shame if all of those Qik users who enjoy using the service were locked out because they don't have a Verizon phone.

UPDATE: Skype was quick to reach out to me and let me know I can rest a bit easier knowing that they can market Qik directly and indirectly in the U.S. with plans to continue the Qik strategy to work across as many platforms and handsets as possible. Verizon has a Skype brand for video calling, but this should not affect the Qik video calling capability on other carriers and handsets.