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SMC, FON And Skype In Big Wi-Fi Bundle |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Friday, 08 December 2006 |
The Skype Online Shop has teamed up with two Wi-Fi players
to offer a bundle that promises to keep users connected at home and on the go.
In a move we should see more of, these three players have
decided to pool their product specialities to deliver a complete solution to
consumer broadband calling.
FON is the Spanish Wi-Fi
network owner that is attempting to build a global Wi-Fi network by getting
people to share their home Internet access and residential WLANs with other
members. FON
is yet to reach Australian shores.
While the project seems ambitious, remember that the start-up
is backed by big brand investors including Google, Skype, and Sequoia Capital. Apart from the sharing aspects of the FON
business it also provides a Wi-Fi router, which is included in the Skype
bundle.
SMC Networks brings its sleek
SMC Wi-Fi Phone for Skype, the WSKP100, and along with 500 minutes of SkypeOut
credit, and Skype Voicemail for a year the bundle is US$159.99.
The deal is only available to U.S. and European customers.
"The arrival of WiFi phones has helped liberate Skype
users from the PC and made Internet calling truly mobile," said Stefan Oberg,
Skype's General Manager, Hardware.
"But never before have all the necessary ingredients
been combined in one package at such an attractive price. This partnership
delivers a ready-to-use system, leaving more time for conversations with
family, friends and colleagues everywhere."
"We're pleased to have the opportunity to work with
innovators-Skype and FON-to bring together a package that makes communication
better," said Tony Stramandinoli, SMC Networks' vice president of marketing.
"The SMC Wi-Fi Phone for Skype opens a new means for
easy voice communication, and this bundle combines the best of components and
features to get users started with WiFi calling."
"Our goal at FON is to build a global WiFi community so
that consumers can benefit from the fantastic capabilities and services that
ubiquitous WiFi has to offer," said FON founder and CEO Martin Varsavsky.
"The combination of Skype, SMC's Wi-Fi phone and FON is a huge leap
forward towards this new realm of WiFi everywhere."
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