Holen adds that travelers can use their Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones to place calls with Skype at hot spots in and around international hotels and Internet cafes. "A lot of so-called Third World countries have Internet cafes," said Holen, who lives in New York.
Meanwhile, developers are cranking out iPhone, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile applications to help frequent fliers not only find hot spots, but to navigate flight cancellations, and book transportation before they reach the airport.
One new digital concierge service is RideCharge, which BlackBerry and iPhone owners can use to book ground transportation in 20 US cities, including Boston. The service pays for your ride automatically by means of the Internet. Another service, WorldMate Live, provides flight status updates, weather, and other travel information to Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices.
