By Yale Holder
Skype has launched Skype Wifi a service which connects mobile devices, cell phones and laptops to over 1 million WiFi hotspots around the world.
This service allows regular Skype subscribers to pay on a per use basis while traveling. Currently the cell phone app is only available on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, but I suspect it will be on Android soon as well.
Why would you be interested?
Well simply because it allows users to save on their roaming charges.
For Canadians roaming charges in theUS can be as high as $1.45 per min and $3 per MB, Skype wifi can cost as low as $0.20 per min period (no data charges). That’s huge savings!
The drawback of course is that you need to connect to a wifi hotspot, and while there are many in the US in other parts of the world they may not be as many hotspots to connect to, but that is likely to change as Skype continues to expand its service internationally.
How does it work?
The process is fairly simple:
- Download iPhone App on your iPhone or iPad
- Add credit to your Skype account
- From the app join a wifi hotspot
- Only pay for the time you are online
You will need to get and iPhone in order to make this work today, but you can also leverage the same process on your laptop to connect and get going.
Yale Holder is co-founder of myCELLmyTERMS, a Toronto-based company that helps cell phone users negotiate wireless plans with independent dealers.