The largest virtual phone network in the world, Skype and the largest WiFi network in the world, FON, have teamed up to jointly launch a WiFi phone that connects for free wherever you find other foneros (fon community members).
Started by maverick entrepreneur Martin Varsafsky, in November 2005, FON, the wireless services company, has come a long way since it began life in Madrid, when many critics discarded the idea of sharing broadband connections as impractical.

“It all started as a simple idea. Why should you pay for Internet access on the go when you have already paid for it at home? Exactly, you shouldn’t. So we decided to help create a community of people who get more out of their connection through sharing” Varsafsky.

After collecting 18 million euros at the beginning of the year, from Google, Skype, Index Ventures and Sequoia Capital, FON are now having their first custom built router, available since October, bundled into a Skype WiFi phone package, which was released today.

Part of the investment deal in February meant additional board members at FON, such as Niklas Zennström, founder of Skype.
“There is perhaps no more important goal for the industry than helping to make broadband Internet access available around the world, FON has a great idea to help people share WiFi with one another to build a global unified broadband network, and we’re happy to lend support” Zennström.

Via MobileHub

Update:The bundle is exclusively available in the U.S. and Europe, from the Skype Web store at skype.com/shop.