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Microsoft Is Killing Off Skype WiFi Service (betanews.com)

Posted by msmash on from the killing-things dept.

Mark Wilson, writing for BetaNews: Microsoft has announced that it will discontinue its Skype WiFi service as of March 31. The global retirement of the service is to allow the company to focus on "core Skype features." Skype WiFi allows for paid Internet access through hotspots around the world, and is something that proved quite popular with travelers looking to minimize data roaming charges. After the cut-off date, Skype WiFi will no longer be available, and the various mobile apps will no longer act as a hotspot finder.

47 comments

  1. Skype's new UI sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Really it's awful; and as of march the old UI clients are going to be no longer functional.

    1. Re:Skype's new UI sucks by bobbied · · Score: 2

      Really it's awful; and as of march the old UI clients are going to be no longer functional.

      I'll bet the banner ads show up just fine.. Which means it's NOT broken, it just doesn't do what you want it to.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    2. Re:Skype's new UI sucks by ahabswhale · · Score: 1

      Skype's UI has always sucked.

      --
      Are agnostics skeptical of unicorns too?
  2. Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ....Windows world? Apple's iMessage works seamlessly, They could have integrated Skype into Win10 and made it just as seamless.

    1. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by Bugler412 · · Score: 2

      they've done exactly that on Windows 10 phone

    2. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by swimboy · · Score: 1

      I'm not trying to start a flame war, but Windows phones occupy less than 0.1% of the smartphone market. And where they have the lion's share of the market, they don't integrate. Apple has integrated iMessage into all desktops, laptops, iPods, iPhones, and Apple Watches so that it's seamless, and it's tied to your identity, not your phone number. It even plays nice with SMS. You don't realize how convenient it is until you use it, but getting an SMS notification on your computer screen, and being able to click and reply without even switching applications, then continue the same thread later on your phone is absolutely brilliant in scope and execution. (And I hate to admit it, but those damn for-pay sticker packs are making iMessage a lot more popular for end users of a certain age, and developers.)

      --
      Ask me how the Heisenberg Principle may or may not have saved my life.
    3. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's because Microsoft is really a collection of Tribes that really don't get on well with each other. The Exchange Tribe vs. SQL Server. Hell, the friction between "DevDiv" (Developer Division - think Visual Studio and .Net" and "WinDiv" -- the division responsible for Windows itself - is why UWP is some awful combination of COM and .Net, rather than getting rid of COM entirely.

      So... I'm going to guess the Skype tribe/team in Microsoft will fight the idea of being subsumed into the Windows 10 base-platform team -- even though they should be. You're completely right, there should be exactly two Skype apps - a Windows 10 UWP native that should be the messaging platform in W10 and a downlevel (pre W10) client. And the onramp should be easy - if I've signed into Windows with a Windows Live account, it should give me the option to very quickly enable that for Skype use too. They did this, once - Windows Live Messenger was shipped with certain versions of Windows XP (I think.)

      Have some courage, Microsoft. Give us an excellent and seamless user experience. And get MOVING on it - start shipping out updated Skype apps NOW. (And don't release "preview" apps - get it out there as a fully-supported "we stake our name on it" app ASAP, Yes, I know you have "Skype Preview" app in W10 - do better than that, preview is daft. GET IT OUT THERE.

    4. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by Bugler412 · · Score: 1

      I completely understand the issue with Winphone market share, it is what it is though. AC asked why MS hasn't done the iMessage thing with Skype, when they have in fact done so. Not being aware of it doesn't make it untrue. When I use my winphone, I get the SMS functionality that you describe. I'm not defending the platform otherwise, in fact I'm likely switching to a Pixel next month for exactly the market share reasons you refer to.

    5. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by johanw · · Score: 1

      It depends very much on where you are. The US is the only country where iOS has a large market share, and most plans offer unlimited or huge numbers of sms, so that might explain the popularity of iMessage. In Europe, sms was quite expensive until recently and mms was very expensive, so noone wants to risk sending lots of sms messages just because a contact does not have an iPhone. WhatsApp became the defacto standard and now sms prices have fallen but the telco's were too late. In other countries, especially Asia, other messengers are the standard: WeChat in China, Line in Japan.

      Skype is mostly popular in buissiness environments or with elder people calling from pc's.

    6. Re:Why hasn't MS made Skype the iMessage of the... by johanw · · Score: 1

      You're forgetting the Android and iOS clients. MS releases usually once a week, and does usually not show visible differences, so pre-releases are indeed not needed.

  3. Didn't see the point of it by Malc · · Score: 1

    something that proved quite popular with travelers looking to minimize data roaming charges

    Seriously? Most places (bar maybe Australia) have so much free wifi available, the Skype wifi popup was just annoying. Seems like maybe a good move by Microsoft.

    1. Re:Didn't see the point of it by sit1963nz · · Score: 2

      And if you are travelling, get a "Three" prepay SIM from the UK, there are no roaming charges for most countries you want to travel to and its a damn sight cheaper than trying to buy a prepay for those countries. We bought one, threw it into the iPad and was able to use it via wifi tethering for the other devices we had with us.
      This worked out MUCH cheaper than the crappy wifi we were offered for a fee is US hotels

      "roaming" charges are a collusion between the carriers to screw over users with excessive charges.

    2. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And if it was the only option, it was stupid expensive, like 5c per minute.

      At the end of the day, it was a micropayment system purely WiFi. Limited, expensive, unimaginative. Probably not much of a loss.

    3. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The 'free' wifis are now 'free to log in with your current ISP's credentials' kind of hot spots now.
      The good ol days of an open channel, or even generic Click To Use wifis are gone. In many, many places it's
      "free wifi offered by Comcast (or company x), please enter your username & password to use this free service" kind of hotspot. Unfortuantely.

    4. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You probably weren't the target audience, then. France has nearly all WiFi locked down. Living in France, having cell phone plans with local companies, I can access it anywhere, but if I came from elsewhere I wouldn't be able to.

      Germany traveling I had used Skype WiFi, if I remember correctly.

      It's not so necessary, but it's nice to have it built in.

    5. Re:Didn't see the point of it by skids · · Score: 1

      In the US .edu sector we have to do this, due to federal CALEA regulations. We have to make some good faith attempt to verify the identity of people we provide Internet access to, or at least shovel that responsibility over to another IDP by using their accounts.

      --
      Someone had to do it.
    6. Re:Didn't see the point of it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      bar maybe Australia

      Out of date comment there.

    7. Re:Didn't see the point of it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Maybe the ones blanketing an entire city, but every bloody cafe and corner shop will offer you wifi including every hotel from the expensive down to a youth hostel and if you get really stuck just walk near a bar.

      You don't need to use an ISP's service to get free wifi.

    8. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've used Skype WiFi in Europe a few years back. Many WiFi Access points had the choices of:

      1. Enter your ISP login details for supported ISPs (sometimes needing an extra "WiFi access" subscription, depending on the ISP)
      2. Buy a daily coupon for a ridiculous rate that really should get you a months worth of casual usage
      3. Buy an hour's worth of access for about half the daily rate
      4. Use Skype to get access for a few cents a minute

      Often these access points were in places like train stations where I had a few minutes to check my email. These days though, I'd probably just pick up a local SIM card if I was staying more than a couple of days.

    9. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are there still airports that charge for WiFi? Most of my travelling these days is in Asia, where WiFi is universally free in airports, and usually free around town as well, though you might need to buy a coffee some places to get an access code. The exception is Japan, which annoyingly is mostly tied up by the mobile providers who only allow access to their own subscribers, but it is slowly getting better there as well, and both Tokyo airports have free WiFi available to anyone willing to supply them with a fake email address.

    10. Re:Didn't see the point of it by Malc · · Score: 1

      No, I don't think so, although admittedly last year the shopping malls I went in seemed to be finally offering free wifi which saved me having to stand outside the Apple Store. I visit Australia a lot and it's irritating. Even my in-laws get jumpy about turning on personal hotspots and the cost of data. It just generally adds to cost of an expensive country.

    11. Re:Didn't see the point of it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Shopping malls, bars, restaurants, pubs. Seriously look around. The entire city may not be blanketed enough for an interruption free Pokémon go game but if you're not getting enough WiFi then you're not looking for WiF.

    12. Re: Didn't see the point of it by BeaverCleaver · · Score: 1

      Um, which Australia do you live in? Where I spend time (including the nation's capital) we're in the digital 3rd world. Maybe I'm just bitter about the aborted NBN.

      --
      sustainable living
    13. Re: Didn't see the point of it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      With broadband speeds (hahah the oxymoron) I would agree. Actually no I wouldn't. There are plenty of 3rd world places with better internet. But directly back at the original point which was the proliferation of WiFi, seriously if you're in Sydney and you can't find a free WiFi hotspot then you're not looking. .. or eating. Or staying anywhere. Or going out at all.

      But maybe all that eating and sleeping basics isn't for you. Maybe you just want to bum on the beach (both beaches have fee WiFi), or you want culture (opera house has free wifi).

      Or maybe you don't actually have wifi, but just a painted on symbol on your phone which is why it doesn't work.

    14. Re: Didn't see the point of it by BeaverCleaver · · Score: 1

      Even the "free" hotspots have ridiculously low data caps. Or are out of order. Or they break for no reason halfway through a session. Or they leak data/personal information like a sieve. Pro tip: shopping centres don't provide wifi because they like you.

      And as for beaches, I hope those were typos. "Both" beaches? There are more than two. And did you mean "fRee" or that you pay a fee for wifi access?

      --
      sustainable living
    15. Re: Didn't see the point of it by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Nope. As far as tourists are concerned there's only two beaches at Sydney. If you want to figure out which they are, look for the two that you can barely walk across without falling over someone in summer.

      For us locals there are many beaches but given that we're locals I highly doubt we'd be complaining about lack of wifi there.

      As for limits and your complaints, they are nothing to do with the original statement which is that Australia is somehow so far behind every other country in the public wifi realm that it's unusable. Your complaints are valid but they are also universal across the entire planet and dependent only on how much effort a local place puts into their customer service.

  4. T-Mobile has free roaming! by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    T-Mobile has free roaming!

    1. Re:T-Mobile has free roaming! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But then you're stuck on T-Mobile. ewww

    2. Re:T-Mobile has free roaming! by bobbied · · Score: 1

      T-Mobile has free roaming!

      Sure, until the electronic leash breaks, which, where I am would be often.

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    3. Re:T-Mobile has free roaming! by kamaaina · · Score: 1

      T-Mobile has Wifi Calling too. At least my T-Mobile provided phone does. I changed the ROM on an older one and lost the ability.

      I have an ATT phone as well and do not see it.

      Do any other major carriers have Wifi Calling?

    4. Re:T-Mobile has free roaming! by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yay, I can have a phone that can't get reception domestic AND abroad!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. dang by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype wifi was a great service, especially when traveling internationally.

    Nothing is worse than shelling out too many dollars to get connected for a few minutes.

  6. Awful is the goal! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Really it's awful ...

    You don't understand Microsoft. You think Microsoft is in the software business. Wrong! Microsoft is in the ABUSE business, and only uses software to deliver abuse. -- My opinion, shared by many others.

    1. Re:Awful is the goal! by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      1. Abuse
      2. ???
      3. Profit

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Skype turned to shit after Microsoft bought it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Skype turned to shit after Microsoft bought it and this has happened to EVERYTHING Microsoft touches.

    1. Re:Skype turned to shit after Microsoft bought it by ruir · · Score: 1

      Amen. Is what I call the reverse Midas touch. Everything Microsoft touches turns into a turd.

    2. Re:Skype turned to shit after Microsoft bought it by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Amen. Is what I call the reverse Midas touch. Everything Microsoft touches turns into a turd.

      Yea, but you can bet they make money on their, um... Stuff....

      --
      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  8. It was the most pointless POS in the world by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    Seriously I never saw the point of it. Regardless of where I was, Australia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, USA, Canada, Brazil, Vietnam, China, India ... I've always found free WiFi pretty much wherever I go.

    It was a solution either looking for a problem, or more traditionally in the Microsoft sense, 5 years too late to the party.

    1. Re:It was the most pointless POS in the world by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed, and everywhere I went, it would pop up a notice offering to charge me for internet from a wifi provider that offered it free anyway with an extra click.

  9. The real story by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    The global retirement of the service is to allow the company to focus on "core Skype features."

    Translation:

    The global retirement of the service is to allow the company to find new ways to mine your data and monitor your conversations.

    I knew Skype was going to turn to pure shit the moment I heard Microsoft was buying them, it was only a matter of time.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:The real story by PPH · · Score: 1

      mine your data and monitor your conversations

      Microsoft clients can do that regardless of what physical protocol you use to connect to the Internet. My guess is that the telecoms don't like free WiFi bypassing their service. And Microsoft has some reason to play nicely with them (Yet another run at Windows Phone?)

      In the perfect world, clients shouldn't need to know how they are connected so long as the bandwidth, latency and QoS are sufficient to support the application layer.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:The real story by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      Free WiFi bypassing, hmm, exactly how, auto magically I expect. The WiFi point holder pays for the internet access and the holder of that WiFi point simply allows you access to their bought and paid for internet connection. M$ is as greedy as fuck and likely wanted to cut those WiFi point providers out of access to you, without M$ being able to charge for it. Basically M$ wants to charge all other companies for any access to you, any kind of digital access, they want a percentage, like trolls charging tolls, no pay, then they want to cut you off from them.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  10. Airports by virtig01 · · Score: 1

    My usage of it was exclusively in airports. Especially when traveling internationally, Skype Wifi was highly convenient for getting a new minutes of network access. No need to register with Boingo, Bongo, Dingo or whatever the hell operator the airport authority sold their wifi operation to. No need to sign up for "unlimited 7-day access" when I was only going to be in the country for an hour.

  11. I see a lot of people mentioning they use skype by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you need to be cured of this problem all you need to do is read their terms of service. Warning: Shocking content.

    1. Re:I see a lot of people mentioning they use skype by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      But you can't be assed to show us that shocking content so we get to enjoy wading through the EULA legalese.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  12. Nothing New... by swd99999999 · · Score: 1

    Don't use or rely on Microsoft products and services because sooner or later they will cut it off. ~Angry FoxPro Developer

  13. People, help Tox! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am one of qTox supporter. Start using qTox and ask your friends to try.
    It is completely Skype alternative. No Microsoft, No NSA, No Account required.
    No Central server, 100% P2P network.

    Try at https://github.com/tux3/qTox