It all started with Skype Access. Over time it became Skype WiFi, a service that offers affordable WiFi access through dedicated access points. Now, Microsoft has confirmed a new mutation under the name Microsoft WiFi, which will extend the reach of that network to 10 million hotspots, covering different parts of the globe.
There's only one way to say it: my mobile connectivity sucks. I've changed phones, plans, providers, configurations and browsers, but I still find myself trapped in the torture of having to beg the damn 3G to spit out a couple of bytes. The only thing that has worked so far is hunting down some public WiFi, a double-edged sword if there ever was one, considering how easy it is to intercept packets and extract information from them. If traditional providers can't fix their performance issues, maybe it's time to explore other options, such as Microsoft WiFi, a new service that the Redmond giant just "un-announced".
What do I mean by that? Its official page showed some images and download links, but that material was quickly replaced with a "Coming Soon". However, a company spokesperson confirmed that the service is legitimate, and that it will be available shortly. In essence, it's an evolutionary leap for Skype WiFi, and its goal is to provide WiFi connectivity through dedicated points with a "pay as you go" scheme. Finding access points will be a matter of checking an interactive map, but everything points to a "soft launch" of Microsoft WiFi, limiting its availability to current Skype WiFi users, employees with access to Office 365 Enterprise, and people who receive a special invitation from Microsoft.
There's no word on pricing yet, though it's likely that the primary payment method will be Skype credit, avoiding the need to link credit cards or fill out forms on a mobile device. Despite the lack of information and the "self-censorship" Redmond decided to apply to the official site, the plan to distribute and connect 10 million hotspots in 130 countries definitely deserves our attention. Maybe this is exactly what the big names of the Web should do. Instead of playing at being a mobile provider, maybe the solution is to ignore the mobile structure entirely and fill the world with WiFi. We'll find out soon.
Official site: Microsoft WiFi
