Skype adds WiFi for Apple Ipad and Iphone

COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE provider and recent Microsoft acquisition Skype has added WiFi connection services for the Ipad and Iphone.

The addition was announced in a blog post by the firm's Shadi Mahassel, who said that the service is also available for the Ipod Touch. The addition, which was originally called Skype Access, is available as a free download from the Apple App Store.

"With the new Skype WiFi app, you can go online on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch (running iOS 4.1 or above with multitasking) at over 1 million WiFi hotspots around the world, including hotels, airports, train stations, convention centres, bars and restaurants," said Mahassel.

"And with Skype Credit you only pay for the minutes you use. So, there's no need to buy an hour or day WiFi voucher if you're only looking to check your email or make a quick Skype call."

Predictably, this is thought to have appeal for travellers, and we guess anyone that needs to chat with people wherever and whenever they are.

WiFi access prices start at 4p per minute, said Mahassen, but if you want to try it out for free you can as the service is offered gratis between Saturday 20 August 00:00 and Sunday 21 August 23:59 BST. During this time users can have an hour's worth of connection as long as they have a Skype account and access to some sort of wireless connection.

When it's not free Skype WiFi charges only for the minutes users are connected and the firm expects that it will save users money when travelling by avoiding roaming charges, for example, and by removing the risk of additional charges for uploading and downloading content. µ