Skype/Boingo offer hotspot VoIP

Wi-Fi provider Boingo has teamed up with internet telephony pioneer Skype to promote its wireless hotspots as voice over IP sites.

Called Skype Zones the locations will offer discounted Wi-Fi access to Skype customers. Boingo has 18,000 sites worldwide.

In the US the service will cost £4.50 per month or £2 for two hours during the current test phase. Boingo's unlimited data service costs £14 per month.

Users will have to download and install the Skype Zones client software available from the Skype Store or the Boingo website.

Mark Blowers, senior analyst at Butler Group, told vnunet.com: "We are going to see more of this. Skype is very innovative and it is logical that they would extend services beyond the desktop like this.

"I think we will see others do this soon too. It is clearly a growing threat to mobile and fixed line carriers."

Skype currently claims 45 million users.