Skype is teaming-up with hotspot operators around the world to offer its users pay-as-you-go Internet access starting at £.04/€.05/$.06 per minute. Dubbed Skype Access, it relies on your existing Skype Credit to charge users, requiring no daily and/or monthly vouchers to get online.
Already the VoIP service provider has a number of partners on board, allowing users to connect at more than half a million hotspot around the world — including 500 airports, 30,000 hotels and numerous cafes, trains, planes, offices buildings and convention centers. In order to connect, you’ll need the latest version of Skype for Mac or PC and enough money on your account to use the service.
The list of Skype’s partners includes:
- BT Openzone – The UK’s largest WiFi hotspot provider with two million hotspots.
- Fon – The world’s largest WiFi network with over 3.35 million so called Fon Spots.
- M3 Connect – Offers WiFi access in many hotels, fairgrounds, airports and places in Germany.
- Row 44 – The leading in-flight broadband platform to commercial airlines around the world.
- Skyrove – WiFi hotspot solutions for Guesthouses, Hotels and Coffee Shops throughout South Africa.
- Spectrum Interactive – Offers WiFi for the travel and media sector including airports and hotels across the UK.
- Tomizone – WiFi provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
- Vex – Offers WiFi services in thousands of locations around the world, South America included.
By partnering with Skype, WiFi network operators get to access Skype’s 145 million average monthly connected users which may prefer pay-as-you-go model versus traditional vouchers.
Finally to celebrate the launch of the new service and get some media coverage from the press attending the Mobile World Congress, Skype is offering free WiFi access through February 14th across the whole of Spain.