Some holiday travelers will inevitably be stuck at the airport due to flight delays and cancellations while everyone else celebrates the festive season, but the Skype airport service offers a way to alleviate this unfortunate situation. The Internet video-calling company, which was acquired by Microsoft earlier this year, has partnered up with 50 US airports to offer travelers free Wi-Fi connection so that they may call their friends and family members between flights.
Available at special Skype Wi-Fi hotspots in the airports, the Skype airport service will run from December 21 to 27 and allow travelers to connect to those on their Skype friends lists for a free, one-hour video or phone conversation. The full list of participating airports can be found on the interactive map on Skype's blog.
What's Driving This Trend
- Airport Connectivity
- The Skype airport service highlights the trend of providing free Wi-Fi connection in airports, enabling travelers to connect with loved ones during their journey.
- Video Communications
- The Skype airport service exemplifies the growing trend of using video calls as a means of staying connected, especially during the holiday season.
- Partnerships for Traveler Convenience
- The partnership between Skype and US airports demonstrates the trend of collaborating to provide enhanced amenities and services for travelers.
Who This Affects Most
- Telecommunications
- Telecommunications companies can capitalize on the trend of airport connectivity by offering innovative solutions for seamless communication during travel.
- Technology
- The video communications trend presents disruptive innovation opportunities for technology companies to develop advanced video calling platforms with enhanced features and user experience.
- Hospitality
- The partnership trend between Skype and airports opens up potential for the hospitality industry to explore similar collaborations, providing convenience and personalized experiences for travelers.
