Skype, a global provider of Internet communications software, expanded further into the vast realm of Wi-Fi recently after partnering with global Wi-Fi giant iPass.

"Skype's phenomenal success in growing a global user base, and now its partnership with iPass, emphasizes how critical Wi-Fi is to the mobile data ecosystem," said Evan Kaplan, president and CEO of iPass."Wi-Fi is now the consumer's choice for wireless network access, accounting for up to 85 percent of total smartphone-originated data traffic. iPass will enhance the Skype Wi-Fi service by providing quality hotspots in more locations around the world than ever before, and this is a big win for the consumer."

Wi-Fi and its hot spots are the hottest things on the planet, according to the 2012 study from Strategy Analysis, 61 percent of all U.S. households have Wi-Fi networks installed at home and globally, the Wi-Fi households rate are even higher, for example, Japan (68.4 percent), Germany(71.7 percent), South Korea (83.3 percent), and so on, with estimates that 678 million households worldwide will be connected to the internet via broadband by the end of the year – a 8.5-percent increase from 2011.

The data on Wi-Fi hotspots is even more staggering, according to a report by market research company Informa Telecoms and Media, hotspots are expected to triple globally from 1.3 to 5.8 million by the year 2015.

In addition, a 2012 report from Analysis Mason stated that 75 percent of smartphone customers use Wi-Fi on their devices.

"A global Wi-Fi network is fundamental to Skype's business to support our large and growing subscriber base that use Skype products for video calling, IP voice and instant messaging,” said Todd Haugen, general manager of Skype Wi-Fi. "Partnering with iPass was an obvious choice as they have the largest commercial Wi-Fi network by far, with access to over 1.2 million hotspots across 124 countries and territories. Incorporating the iPass global network with Skype Wi-Fi had an immediate positive impact, increasing both service utilization and customer satisfaction. The iPass Open Mobile Exchange (OMX) business model makes for a perfect partnership, allowing Skype to focus on our core product offers."

iPass Open Mobile Exchange (OMX) is the world’s largest commercial Wi-Fi roaming and exchange platform for Communication Service Providers (CSPs). iPass OMX helps to increase mobile network capacity quickly and cost-effectively by providing access to the world’s largest commercial Wi-Fi network through a single interface, connecting 140 Wi-Fi network operators and over 680,000 hotspots with certified WISPr interoperability in 117 countries and territories worldwide.

iPass has 1.2 million global Wi-Fi access points across 124 countries and territories, 146 global operators with whom iPass’ authentication infrastructure is integrated, and 76,000 strategic venues including hotel and conference venues and global airports.


Edited by Rachel Ramsey