Skype Offers UK Surfers Free Wi-Fi For A Week

Skype is sponsoring public hotspots next week, allowing UK web surfers free access to the Internet from cafés, hotels and airports across the country.

The move is part of Internet Week Europe, which begins on 12.01am on Monday 8 November and ends at midnight on Friday 12 November. The Internet Week Europe festival is celebrating Internet organisations and culture during next week.

Users will be able to get online at BT Openzone, Spectrum Interactive and The Cloud hotspots.

Skype Access Required

According to Skype, users will need the latest version of Skype for Windows or Mac in order to enjoy surfing the web, sending emails, or making free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls.

Skype is of course not doing this purely out of charity, but as a way to promote one of its new services, namely Skype Access, which lets users buy Wi-Fi hotspot access using their Skyte credit.

In order to get the free web access for a week, users will need to register for Skype Access (which is free to set up) and have the free Skype VoIP client installed.

Skype Access lets people use 200,000 Wi-Fi hotspot locations worldwide without having to pay for costly airport or coffee shop Wi-Fi fees. Instead the user simply logs in to Skype using the latest version of its VoIP client, and their Skype Credit is used instead.

Once connected, instead of paying normal Wi-Fi fees, the user pays using their Skype Credit, only for the minutes they use, at a rate of 14c a minute (16c including VAT).

Growing Communications Giant

There is little doubt that Skype is a growing force in international communications, with approximately 560 million registered Skype users around the world. Its ability to connect people cheaply around the world, often face to face, using nothing more than a standard internet connection is proving to be hugely attractive for users.

Indeed, Cisco has tried to jump aboard the bandwagon after it launched its home telepresence system for consumers known as Umi in early October. However unlike Skype which is free for computer to computer communication, Cisco’s option costs a whopping $599 (£376) for the Umi equipment and $24.99-a-month (£15.68) subscription service.

Cisco will have its work cut out for it. In the meantime however, it was revealed that Skype is working on a deep integration with Facebook to enable Skype users to call or instant message their Facebook contacts. And Skype also has a new boss providing direction for the company, who is coincidentally, a former Cisco executive.