"Partnering with Skype demonstrates the evolution of public-access Wi-Fi to include VoIP and other value added applications by allowing greater connectivity and productivity on the move," says David Hagan, Boingo president and CEO. "Skype's convenience and call quality have made it as important to travelers as email, and we expect Skype usage to increase traffic and revenue at our network of hot spots."
Use of Skype Zones requires a custom version of Boingo's software, which includes a Wi-Fi "sniffer," connection management, and roaming authentication capabilities. Once connected, users can make calls using their Skype software, as well as access Skype's familiar features such as presence, global user directory, contact lists and instant messages.
Boingo, says Skype cofounder and CEO Niklas Zennstrom, "offers Skype users unprecedented global communications mobility and accessibility, at an aggressive, market disrupting price."
The Skype Zones client software is available for Windows computers and can be downloaded from the
Skype or
Boingo web sites. A directory of Boingo's 18,000 hotspots is included in the Skype Zones software and is also listed
here.
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