How to use the latest skype products and technology to not need
regular cell phones in most major US metro areas primarily and also
global metropolitan areas using a remote hand held phone or device,
without being connected to notebook, pc, or land line?

Hello luanda,

The Skype help section ( http://support.skype.com/?_a=knowledgebase )
includes a section on how to use Skype on mobile devices in places
(such as hotspots in metropolitan areas) with WiFi or 3G connectivity:

"Skype for Windows Mobile topics"
Skype
http://support.skype.com/?_a=knowledgebase&_j=subcat&_i=58

In summary, this material indicates that you can use Skype on a device
that uses a Windows Mobile Smartphone or Windows Pocket PC operating
system.  If your device meets the hardware and storage requirements
described in these topics, you can use Skype with a Wi-Fi or 3G
connection.

"Do I have to have Wi-Fi? Do Skype for Smartphone and Skype for Pocket
PC work on GPRS? What about 3G?"
Skype
http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=991&nav=+%26gt%3B+%3Ca+href%3D%27index.php%3F_a%3Dknowledgebase%26_j%3Dsubcat%26_i%3D58%27%3ESkype+for+Windows+Mobile%3C%2Fa%3E

"Can I use Skype over 3G?"
Skype
http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=1011&nav=+%26gt%3B+%3Ca+href%3D%27index.php%3F_a%3Dknowledgebase%26_j%3Dsubcat%26_i%3D58%27%3ESkype+for+Windows+Mobile%3C%2Fa%3E

"Do I have to have WiFi?"
Skype
http://support.skype.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=1013&nav=+%26gt%3B+%3Ca+href%3D%27index.php%3F_a%3Dknowledgebase%26_j%3Dsubcat%26_i%3D58%27%3ESkype+for+Windows+Mobile%3C%2Fa%3E

If you later decide that you want to use Skype with a laptop, you may
be interested in Skype Zones, which allows a Skype connection at
numerous hotspots:

"Skype Zones topics"
Skype
Shttp://support.skype.com/?_a=knowledgebase&_j=subcat&_i=30

"Skype Zones"
Skype
http://www.skype.com/products/skypezones/

"Skype Zones: Locations"
Boingo
http://skypezones.boingo.com/search.html

Presumably, given the popularity of Skype, access to Skype in cities
around the world -- as an alternative to regular cell phones -- will
continue to increase.  You might want to check back on Skype's help
pages to monitor these developments.

- justaskscott


Search strategy:

Browsed and searched Skype website.