Skype Launches WiFi Hotspot Operator Partnership Program with Leading WiFi Providers

Skype Access Available in 500,000 WiFi Hotspots Globally

Free WiFi in Spain through Skype Access for the Week of Mobile World Congress

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skype Access, pay-as-you-go Internet that uses your Skype Credit to get online, has officially launched a partner program for WiFi hotspot operators. Leading WiFi hotspot providers around the globe including BT Openzone, Fon, Tomizone and others have signed on to provide Internet access for consumer and business users on-the-go using Skype.

With one click, Skype users can connect to the Internet through a WiFi operator partner in over 500,000 hotspots around the globe including 500 airports, 30,000 hotels and numerous cafes, trains, planes, offices buildings, and convention centers. Whether in a neighbourhood cafe or in the airport on a business trip, you can quickly connect to the Internet for voice and video calls, email, or simply surfing the web.

In celebration of Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona this week, Skype Access will be free to use from 0001 CET on the 14th February 2011 to 2359 CET on the 18th February 2011 across the whole of Spain.

Rather than paying costly per day or per hour Internet access fees, Skype Access allows you to pay per minute using Skype Credit to control your costs at rates starting at £.04 /€.05/$.06per minute**. All you need is a connection to a Skype Access compatible hotspot and the latest version of Skype for Mac or Windows.

Through the Skype Access partnership program, WiFi operators are able to generate additional revenues from untapped users who prefer pay-as-you-go models versus traditional vouchers. Partnering with Skype provides operators access to Skype’s 145 million average monthly connected users*who are communicating with their friends, family and colleagues both at home and while travelling.

Skype Access partners include:

BT Openzone – The UK’s largest WiFi hotspot provider with a network of two million hotspots

Fon – The world's largest WiFi network with over 3.35 million Fon Spots across the globe

M3 Connect – WiFi provider in Germany with hotspots in many hotels, fairgrounds, airports and places like the German Stock Exchange

Row 44 – Provides the world’s 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 – Specializes in offering 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 including South America

* For three months ending 31 December 2010 excluding users connected via joint venture partners.
**Pricing inclusive of VAT

About Skype

Skype is a communications platform provider whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart. Skype was founded in 2003 and is based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.