Image courtesy of Skype
Most people who know of and use Skype use it’s free video and voice chat that works across the Internet between two devices running Skype. However, you can also use Skype to make calls to any phone number at low rates using Skype Credit, and you can even buy a phone number to receive phone calls in Skype. The Skype app essentially turns an iPod Touch into a phone as long as it is connected to WiFi.
Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews. 
Starbucks and McDonalds already offer free WiFi. And, while possibly unique to a newly built McDonalds in my area, I found this new restaurant’s combination of good seating alternatives, free WiFi and easy access to A/C power to be a real draw for anyone needing a bit of a charge for their mobile device while eating.
The New Tech Gathering Place: McDonalds? AC Outlets & Free WiFi
Modern customers tend to be both hungry and data hungry when they walk into a restaurant chain these days. And, the steady reduction of monthly wireless data may be a challange to those who want to frequently either share or see digital photographs and video. Features like Google+’s Instant Photo means that some of these data hungry activities don’t even need the account holder to trigger it. These automatic uploads can sometimes be configured to only occur under certain network conditions (e.g., only when WiFi is available). So, the data-thrifty consumer is going to look for chains to pop into for both food/beverage and data.
Engadget reported that Taco Bell is planning to catch-up in the free WiFi game by providing this service in all their establishments by 2015. That seems like an awfully long time when Starbucks and McDonalds already have this in place, though.
Taco Bell to serve up free WiFi and in-store TV, keep you LOL’ing through Fourthmeal
When I woke up yesterday morning, I found the “No Service” message at the top of my iPhone’s screen. This is not unusual. But, it remained there even when I walked around outside to spots where I usually could get a reasonable signal. A call to AT&T Wireless confirmed that the cell tower serving my area was offline. However, even though the cell tower remained down for several hours, I was able to check my email, login into Facebook, tweet on Twitter, browse web sites and used apps because I had a WiFi connection to fall back on.
As you wander around this summer, you may find yourself in need of a WiFi hotspot too. If you have an Android phone or tablet, you may want to check out this free app in the Android Market.
It not only helps connects Android phones to nearby WiFi hotspots, it also maps additional WiFi hotspots it finds while you are using it on your phone. Each time you use the app, it has the possibility of learning more about available WiFi hotspots around you and adds it to its database.
The app has a strong 4.1 average rating with 4,585 user reviews in the Android Market.
Video courtesy of WeFiTube
Nielsen reports that smartphone data use in the U.S. has increased dramatically while cost per megabyte has gone down.
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Imagery courtesy of Google Maps
In this day and age, if your product doesn’t multitask, you’re irrelevant. Thankfully, someone out there decided that a T-shirt was no longer good enough to cover up your nips, hide your accordion belly and absorb sweat.
Slip into this: the WiFi Detecting T-Shirt. Read more
