Voda calls up Wi-Fi

Vodafone was the one notable holdout against the spread of high-speed Wi-Fi across Ireland but the mobile network has finally jumped in with a partnership deal that enables its customers to use hotspots from competing providers BT and Bitbuzz.

The double deal gives post-paid Voda users access to about 140 wireless zones around Ireland, though this is less than half the number which Eircom subscribers have on that rival network (though many of those points are just phone boxes!). The pricing structure is the same as BT's rather optimistic tariff of €10 an hour. This compares poorly with Eircom's rate of €12 a month (only if you're an Eircom broadband subscriber, otherwise €30 a month if you're an Eircom phone customer, otherwise - eek - €70 a month), though in many cases whether it's worth the money comes down to the location of each hotspot and your immediate need.

Vodafone realises that Wi-Fi is potentially a huge threat to its flaky 3G network, where the cost of data is humungous relative to its higher-speed but thinly distributed wireless rival. Making free phone calls over Wi-Fi is already eminently possible also so Voda is positioning itself to keep a controlling finger in every pie.