The popular worldwide Voice-over-IP ( VoIP ) internet phone calling provider, Skype, has expanded the coverage of its Skype Access service (uses your account credit to get online through Wi-Fi ISPs) from 200,000 public Hotspots around the globe to 500,000 thanks to a mass of new partner agreements.

Skype Access Partners Include:

◦ BT Openzone – The UK’s largest WiFi hotspot provider with a network of two million hotspots

◦ Fon – The world's largest WiFi network with over 3.35 million Fon Spots across the globe

◦ M3 Connect – WiFi provider in Germany with hotspots in many hotels, fairgrounds, airports and places like the German Stock Exchange

◦ Row 44 – Provides the world’s leading in-flight broadband platform to commercial airlines around the world

◦ Skyrove – WiFi hotspot solutions for Guesthouses, Hotels and Coffee Shops throughout South Africa.

◦ Spectrum Interactive – Specializes in offering WiFi for the travel and media sector including airports and hotels across the UK

◦ Tomizone – WiFi provider in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific

◦ Vex – Offers WiFi services in thousands of locations around the world including South America

Skype users can now connect to the Internet through a Wi-Fi operator partner in over 500,000 hotspots around the globe, which includes 500 airports, 30,000 hotels and numerous cafes, trains, planes, offices buildings and convention centres.

The service itself costs 13p inc. VAT per minute, although customers in Spain can benefit from free access between now and 23:59 CET on the 18th February 2011. All that's required to connect is to be within range of a Skype compatible hotspot and to have the latest version of Skype software installed for Mac or Windows.