Just when you thought Skype couldn't be any more useful, the company has announced a partnership deal with leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers around the globe. Skype Access, the company's pay-as-you-go service, will now be available through mobile networks in over 500,000 locations including airports, cafes, trains and offices. And the announcement comes with a sweetener – the company is offering free access throughout Spain during Mobile World Congress 2011.
Skype that it has secured partnership deals with a number of Wi-Fi hotspot providers around the world. The UK's largest hotspot provider, BT Openzone, has signed up, as has the world's biggest Wi-Fi network provider, Fon. Others who have joined the scheme include Germany's M3 Connect, South Africa's Skyrove, in-flight broadband provider Row 44, Vex, Tomizone and Spectrum Interactive.
Using Skype Credit to get online, Skype Access users will now be able to benefit from one click, mobile pay-as-you-go voice and video calling in 30,000 hotels, 500 airports, and numerous cafes, business centers and trains throughout the globe over partnered Wi-Fi networks.
The latest version of Skype for Mac or Windows will be needed and rates are expected to start at US$0.06 per minute – which in many cases could be a better option than paying day or per hour Wi-Fi access fees.
