U.S. iPhone visitor to France - Skype WIFI

[mgk2052]

iPhone 3GS U.S. traveller visiting France for 12 days.  Questions:

1) For critical calls to relatives at home, would Skype WIFI for iPhone be a reasonable solution for use in appropriate hotspots in France?

2) Can I use Skype WIFI for iPhone while keeping the phone permanently in Airplane Mode as long as I'm in an appropriate hotspot?

Thanks for your time.

[g4pilut]

1)  Yes, although you may be able to find free wifi hotspots not requiring payment via Skype wifi.

2)  Yes, as long as you manually turn wifi on after putting your phone in airplane mode.  When first put into airplane mode wifi as well as cellular is turned off.