­Wi-Fi hotspot provider, Wicoms has signed a deal that will allow Skype users to have free access to hotspots it manages across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The venues will have to rent the Wi-Fi hotspot equipment from Wicoms, and Skype customers can then just log in using their existing account details to access the free internet access.

Owen Geddes, Managing Director at Wicoms commented: "We're helping brick and mortar retailers effectively compete with online retailers. By working with a globally trusted partner like Skype to provide Free Skype WiFi on-premise, business owners and high street retailers can open a dialogue with potential customers and encourage sales conversion with the power of the mobile phone."

It is not clear yet how many Wi-Fi hotspots the company has set up though.