Nimbuzz has been asked by Skype to remove support for all Skype services, with effect from 31 October. The move is understood to be in line with Skype’s mandate to disconnect with all third party VoIP services ahead of its impending IPO.

Nimbuzz recently announced that it has surpassed 150m downloads and has 30m registered users across all major mobile operating systems. Moreover, 3.65bn mobile voice minutes have been logged by Nimbuzz over the past year, which the firm says highlights the increased demand and rapid adoption of the platform’s own low-cost calling service, NimbuzzOut. Nimbuzz notes that NimbuzzOut ismore competitively priced than Skype, and is available on more mobile devices and networks than SkypeOut.

As of 31 October, Skype users will be unable to chat, send messages or call friends and family on Nimbuzz and vice-versa. However, unlike those using only Skype, Nimbuzz users remain free to communicate with their contacts using other VOIP/SIP services and social networks, including, Facebook, Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger (MSN), AIM, GoogleTalk Twitter, MySpace, ICQ, Gadu-Gadu and Hyves.

“Skype’s decision is unfair to its own and our users,” says Nimbuzz CEO, Evert Jaap Lugt. “People want to choose how they communicate and to be able to make calls and send messages, regardless of service, social network, device or operator network. Nimbuzz gives them the freedom to do so, Skype does not.”