Skype's iPhone app which was released last week is probably the best
VOiP app I have used. However, the problem with it (if you haven't jailbroken your iPhone) is that like other VOiP iPhone apps, you
can only use it to make calls over Wi-Fi due to limitation of iPhone's SDK.
Free Press, an open-internet advocacy group has asked Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate whether Apple and AT&T are violating federal rules by limiting use of Skype's iPhone app only over Wi-Fi.
Skype's iPhone app has been extremely popular on the App Store. Skype announced on their blog that Skype for iPhone was download more than one million times from the App Store in just two days.
However, due to limitations of iPhone's SDK it's not possible to make VOiP calls over a data network.
Free Press, the open-internet advocacy group that has a history of attacking efforts by cable and wireless by cable and wireless companies to prevent customers from using bandwidth-hogging services like file-sharing etc has asked Federal Communications Commission to investigate whether Apple
and AT&T are violating federal rules by limiting use of Skype's
iPhone app only over Wi-Fi.
Chris Riley, policy counsel for Press Press stated:
"The Internet in your pocket should be just as free and open as the
Internet in your home. The FCC must make it crystal clear that a closed
Internet will not be tolerated on any platform."
Skype has welcomed the move. Christopher Libertelli, Senior Director of Government and Regulatory affairs for Skype had this to say:
Apple declined to comment while AT&T spokesperson said they don't block Skype:
no obligation—nor should we have—to facilitate or subsidize our
competitors' businesses"
The restriction to make VOiP calls only over Wi-Fi isn't only limited to U.S. It was reported that Deutsche Telekom, Apple's carrier partner in Germany and some European countries might prevent its T-Mobile iPhone customers from using Skype's iPhone app even on their Wi-Fi networks.
Currently the only way to make VOiP calls over data networks is to install VOiPover3G app on a jailbroken iPhone, but the solution is only available to users who are technically inclined to hack their iPhone.
It will be interesting to see what's the outcome of FCC's investigation. WSJ believes:
open-network advocates could get a more sympathetic hearing. President
Obama announced his support for net neutrality, or the idea that all
Internet traffic should be treated equally, during the campaign. The
president's choice for FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski, is also a net
neutrality supporter."
As always, please let us know what you think in the comments section below.
[WSJ via AppleInsider]
