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Telecommunications Why use your cellphone when you can use it as a WiFi handset?
Telecommunications Why use your cellphone when you can use it as a WiFi handset? | Why use your cellphone when you can use it as a WiFi handset? |
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| by Stuart Corner | |
| Monday, 31 July 2006 | |
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iPass, a company which as provided global Internet roaming access since the days of dial-up for customers ranging from individuals to large corporates has boosted the number of public WiFi hotspots from which access is available from around 1000 to over 60,000 in three years. The iPass system enables a user to access the Internet through the network of any participating service provider using the same sign on and the iPass client software and by paying one bill to their iPass service provider. Biongo provides a similar service but only via WiFi hotspots. In April this year, iPass announced that it was developing a version of its client software for inclusion in the Nokia 9500, the Nokia 9300i and the Nokia ESeries mobile handsets. This enables users of these devices to gain access to the Internet from any of the 60,000 WiFi hotspots in the iPass global network. In July 2005 Skype announced a partnership with WiFi hotspot operator and roaming access provider, Biongo, to enable people using Skype on a Windows PC to make phone calls via Boingo's network of 18,000 WiFi hotspots worldwide, using a customised version of the Biongo software. The charge for unlimited Wi-Fi access for Skype Internet telephony calls is $US7.95 per month, or $US2.95 for a two-hour connection. The service is known as Skype Zones, and according to Skype's web site, it is still in beta. The release of WiFi phones designed for use with Skype raises the intriguing possibility of this same functionality being included into Skype WiFi phones, enabling user to make Skype calls world wide at SkypeOut rates. Even without these developments, as many travelling executives now routinely log onto their corporate networks from their laptops via a WiFi hotspot using iPass when travelling overseas, the use of VoIP software on these laptops will already be eating into cellular operators revenues for high priced global roaming services. {moscomment}
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