UK networks Orange and O2 may not carry the latest Nseries devices, including the N97, if Nokia insist on placing Skype on their hardware (reports MoCoNews and others). While other networks have had success with the Skype infrastructure (notably 3 in the UK), the idea of being able to route calls over the internet and not the GSM services has struck fear into others.

Nokia are of course making a big play to know and retain the affections of their customers through the Ovi system – and havealready been at loggerheads with other networks over services, notably the Comes With Music store, in the past. It's almost a stalemate, as the hardware manufacturer (Nokia) looks to build its own brand and keep customers coming back to Nokia devices, while the networks do not want to be reduced to “dumb pipes” where people move between networks simple on the cost and availability of data traffic. They want the value added services to keep people coming back to Orange, O2 and the like.

Given that O2 are up in arms about this, I wonder if anyone has reminded them just how much the seceded to Apple to get the iPhone on their network, and how this is any different – was it all about status for the iPhone and the Nokia deals are hitting their bread and butter subscriber base?

Is there a way for everyone to work together and grow a bigger pie so the shared slices generates more income than they get for the whole pie just now?