July 14^th, 2011

Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.

Skype Technologies S.A.

 

 

Wire and Wireless (Wi2), one of the largest Wi-Fi hotspot providers in Japan,  announced today a partnership with Skype, a leading provider of Internet communications software, to make Skype Access available at Wi2's over 4,100 Wi-Fi hotspots across Japan.

 

Through this agreement, travellers and users on-the-move will be able to instantly access the Internet via Skype Access a product that lets anyone pay for Wi-Fi access per minute using Skype credit, to surf the web, email and make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls using their existing Skype credentials. Skype Access is currently available at thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide (500,000 worldwide), and its access fee at Wi2 Wi-Fi hotspots is 15JPY per minute.

 

To commemorate this partnership, Skype and Wi2 will conduct "Skype Access and Wi2 Correspondence Campaign," a promotional campaign which allows users to enjoy free Skype Access^[1]at approximately 4,100 Wi2 WiFi hotspots across the nation, starting July 14^th through August 14^th[2].

 

With the addition ofWi2, the Wi-Fi coverage will be expanded in the areas including the airport, train stations, airport buses, and commercial complexes, enabling Skype users to utilize the secure high-speed internet service easily and comfortably. Users can use Skype Access at Wi2's Service Set Identifier (SSID) "Wi2" and "[wi2]" by logging into Skype on their Windows PC or Mac.

 

Wi2 President Tomohito Takatsu said, "We are delighted that our extensive Wi-Fi coverage is now available to Skype users. We will continuously expand our service area to provide an easier and more comfortable Internet access for Japanese users  in the future."

 

Also, Skype Country Manager Shinichi Iwata said, "As approximately 30 million concurrent users^[3] are connected to Skype at peak times, the increase in WiFi hotspots will surely enhance convenience for users in Japan. It will help all users in need of the Wi-Fi access easily connect to the Internet using their existing Skype Credit."

 

 

 [1]. Free usage is unlimited but each session lasts for 30 minutes maximum.
 [2]. Promotion starts onThursday 14th July at 0:01 and ends on Sunday 14th July at 23:59.
 [3]. As of March 2011

 

Media Resources:

 

Ÿ   For details on the Skype Access fee, please go to:

https://support.skype.com/ja/faq/FA10010/Skype-Accessno-shii-fangwo-jiaoetekudasai#3[am1] 

Ÿ   More details of the promotional campaign can be found here.  (http://www.wi2.co.jp/faq/2011/07/wi2skype.html)[am2] 

Ÿ   To locate the nearest Wi2 WiFi hotspot that supports Skype Access, please access  http://300.wi2.co.jp/area/2/ and search with keywords such as the station name or address. The "blue pin" or a "Wi2" as the access point displayed on the map indicates the Wi2 Wi-Fi hotspot (SSID: "Wi2" or "[wi2]").  

 

 

 

About Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.

Wire and Wireless offers the widest Wi-Fi coverage in Japan. Not only the company installs Wi-Fi stations and develops the coverage area, it also provides flexible solutions to accommodate customer needs.

 

"Wi2 300," a wireless broadband internet service, enables users using Wi-Fi-enabled devices including laptops, iPhone™3G, smart phones such as Android devices, iPad®, iPod® touch, Nintendo DS, PSP® to easily access the Internet. The service is available at more than 13,000 Wi-Fi spots nationwide, including train stations, airports, hotels, McDonald's, etc. For more information, please go to http://300.wi2.co.jp/. 

 

 

 

About Skype

Skype is a communications software whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they're apart.

 

Founded in 2003 and based in Luxembourg. Skype can be downloaded onto computers, mobile phones and other connected devices for free at www.skype.com.

 

You can get news and updates from Skype on its Blog: http://blogs.skype.com/ja/, 
Twitter: twitter.com/skype, or Facebook: www.facebook.com/skype.

 

Skype, associated trademarks and logos and the "S" symbol are trademarks of Skype Limited.

 

 

 

 

Contacts

 

Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd.

Kaoru Shichijo

Tel. 03-6758-2129

pr@wi2.co.jp

 

 

For Skype
Go Ichino / Masaki Asanuma

Tel . +81-(0)3-3264-6701

Skype.PR@bm.com