Partners with Wicoms to launch Free Wi-Fi in High Street cafes and business across UK and Ireland

Partners with Wicoms to launch Free Wi-Fi in High Street cafes and business across UK and Ireland

Wicoms and Skype have this week announced the launch of a new Wi-Fi network initiative called Free Skype Wi-Fi.

The new service is rolling out in the UK and the Republic of Ireland in participating High Street venues and businesses to deliver free public internet access.

While the partners had not revealed any details of early retailing adopters, Retail Technology understands that they are getting ready to announce their first major signing of a High Street chain in the UK before the end of this month.

In a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Wicoms, 52% of more than 2,000 UK consumers surveyed who had used public Wi-Fi hotspots while out shopping, said that the experience is generally poor.

Trading on Skype brand awareness

Wicoms’ new Skype service will allow Skype users to log in to any participating free Skype Wi-Fi location across the UK and Ireland with their Skype ID using the Skype Wi-Fi app. Those without a Skype ID will be able to access the service via a sign-up and email validation process.

Shadi Mahassel, Skype Access programme manager, commented: “Simplicity is at the heart of everything Skype does. We believe that internet access should be available to everyone in a simple and affordable way. Our partnership with Wicoms enhances our ability to make Skype universally accessible and expands on our WiFi strategy, which today provides paid WiFi access at over one million locations worldwide.”

The Wicom survey also found that at least 33% of 18-34 year olds have browsed Amazon, eBay or Google on their mobile phones to compare prices and products while out shopping. With this new free Wi-Fi service, Skype said businesses can provide their customers with direct connectivity onsite and start to engage with customers instore, providing special deals and product information to drive sales conversion.

Keeping pace, maximising conversion

Wicom’s survey also revealed that over 50% of 18-34 year olds would be more likely to buy something from a store there and then, if the store was able to send a discount or voucher to their phone when they entered.

Free Skype Wi-Fi is available for businesses and venues through a number of different packages, which start from £9.99 + VAT a month, plus a router costing £49 +VAT.

But by way of introducing the service, Wicoms is offering businesses, free of charge, use of the hardware and the ability to deliver the Wi-Fi service, for the duration of October 2012. At the end of the month, Wicoms will contact every business that has accepted the offer to see if it wants to continue providing the Wi-Fi service. If it doesn’t, the business will be able to keep the router free of charge.

Each package also includes an analytical dashboard to help merchants make the best use of the data from the Wi-Fi service.

Mark Haviland, Rakuten LinkShare UK managing director, commented: “The news that Skype is launching free Wi-Fi is a call to action for retailers to realise that online has an integral role to play on the High Street – the channels should be working together, not competing against one another for sales.”