Skype is launching a new service called Skype Access, to allow its users to connect on Boingo’s WiFi hotspots around the world and be charged on a per-minute basis. Let’s go from bad to great, shall we:
- The bad: If you’re an existing Boingo user, you don’t care about this.
- Not that bad: Paying per-minute is always more expensive than per-day or per-month.
- Almost good: The new version of Skype that supports Skype Access is not available immediately – it will be available within few weeks.
- Good: If you’re not Boingo users, you don’t have to be – your Skype ID is all it takes (as far as I’ve understood). Skype will be the only one to charge you and you only pay when actually using the Internet.
- Great: To celebrate the new service launch (and to get some free PR at the time of the Mobile World Congress), Skype is giving away 15 minutes of free Internet to everyone in Spain from 15-18 February.
And if you’re in Barcelona next week, you may want to check Skype’s booth. They are in the Hall 7, stand 7D49.