Skype invests in FON to increase Wi-Fi availability

This just in from Niklas and Janus...

When we started to think about developing Skype we did so believing that it was inevitable that broadband access would become low-cost and ubiquitous and as it did, communications would increasingly move to the Internet and be accessible through any connected device.

There is no more important shared goal that we have as an industry than helping to make broadband Internet access widespread and low cost -- if together we succeed then everyone wins. So as part of Skype’s role in making this happen and our strategy of increasing your choices when it comes to how and with what devices you can get online, today we are announcing that we are making a small investment in a new and exciting company called [FON](http://en.fon.com/).

FON is trying to make it easy for anyone who has already invested in broadband and a wireless access point to securely share their Wi-Fi, so together we can build a unified global wireless network which is easy to access, safe to share and reasonably priced. What [Martin Varsavsky](http://english.martinvarsavsky.net/fon/a-dream-come-true.html) and the people at FON are doing in making it easy for people to access Wi-Fi anywhere is exactly what we had in our minds as a logical next step as Skype began to proliferate across desktops around the world, so we’re delighted to be a part of the [FON revolution](http://blog.fon.com/en/archive/a-dream-come-true.html).

At Skype we are huge believers in the power of community. Community has driven our growth and we think you’ll like this idea as much as we do because it’s one more powerful option we will all have in deciding how and where we can get online. We also think this idea is bigger than any one business, so we are delighted to work with Martin and the rest of the FON team to make the idea of a global broadband wireless network a reality.

Over the last year, we’ve been really focused on helping you extend the Skype experience beyond your desktop. We’ve introduced great new features like video and call-forwarding and we’ve worked with great hardware partners like [Linksys](http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Promotion_C2%26cid%3D1127783201481&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper), Philips, Motorola and Panasonic so you can have a cordless experience of Skype at home or in your office. In fact just in the last month, we announced at CES with [Netgear](http://tools.netgear.com/skype/) that you will be able to use Skype on a Wi-Fi phone -- no computer, no wires, just turn it on and talk. Over the course of this next year you can expect to see more great Skype accessories coming out from great partners like these and more.

But great accessories are just one piece of the equation. The other piece is reliable and cost-effective broadband access anywhere you go. In 2005, we were thrilled to work with [innovative mobile operators](http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/01/skype_and_3_partner_for_mobile.html) in Germany, Sweden and Hong Kong to offer Skype alongside their unlimited flat-rate 3G data packages. We’ve also been able to launch an early version of our Skype Zones service across over 20,000 locations worldwide with Boingo and The Cloud, two of the world’s leading Wi-Fi hotspot access providers. Our goal is to give users a seamless experience of all forms of broadband access. Now with FON there will be another option to connect -- [we hope you enjoy it](http://en.fon.com/registration/downloading-area.php).

**Niklas and Janus**

Comments

Jaanus,

I would imagine Skype will do something more on the lines 2hotspot.com. A downloadable software that runs on Windows, just like Skype. But Fon runs only on Linksys routers that are no longer manufactured. They need a quite a large Linksys user base...
So Fon subsidize 25$ for each Linksys router purchased on their site, essentially paying people to become Fon users. Imagine Skype paying 25$ for each user that signs up…

Jonathan.

Jonathan,

thanks for your input. You're correct that FON is not quite there yet and their current technology and solution is not yet optimal. However, they just got launched only a few months ago, and as Martin Varsavsky said, this investment helps them ramp up also their technical R&D. So I'm sure over time we are going to see new solutions and software from them which help them and us expand the fonero range. Whether or not this includes also downloadable software for Windows -- we'll see.

I hadn't heard of 2hotspot before, but I quite like their site, it's at least as friendly as Fon, if not even more. It's a learning path for all of us.

Instead of buying new companies maybe Skype should provide support to existing PAYING CUSTOMES. I have purchased gift certificate for my friend and he redeeemed it but now he cannot use skypeout and he skype account can't be charged and is blocked. YOU CHARGED MY MONEY but didn't provide a service. Sending support requrests didn't help and also forum.skype.com is not helping at all.

I am extremely angry. Please fix this problem (you can see in my account the person to whom this gift certificate was granted) or I will never ever purchase any services at Skype.

I am good customer - I purchased skype out and skype in in various countries - but Skype support is not working and account of my friend is blocked and gift certificate is not working.

FIX IT NOW OR FACE BIG LOSS OF GOOD WILL and big damage in publicity!!!

Fon is a great idea, very good marketing, revolution and all that. But...Whats happening with the internet acces providers whats happening with those that are investing in their own net(Neomedia, Mobylnet) Can I share my acces without the permission of my provider?

Skype invests in FON to increase Wi-Fi availability

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