Wireless Service Providers Cracking Down On Skype
Wireless service providers depend largely upon revenue generated from sales of voice plans on their cell phone customers. Without this revenue a huge part of their business would be lost. That being said, that is why there has been a large backlash against the incorporation of Skype onto cell phones. With Skype on a cell phone, the user has the ability to make long distance calls for free and doesn’t need to use minutes from the provider.
This issue has become particularly debated with the AT&T Apple iphone. Currently, the company has been limiting Skype use to Wi-Fi connections so the user of the phone can only use this feature with an internet connection. Clearly, AT&T is hesitant to allow Skype to work on its 3G connection because then customers could enable the feature almost anywhere and wouldn’t need an internet connection.
The interesting question then becomes, is it fair for wireless service providers to limit the use of Skype? Companies that offer home internet service like Comcast and Verizon are actually legally prohibited from limiting the use of Skype at home. This is despite the fact that they also offer home phone service and thus have to compete with Skype.
Given this perspective, it seems that what wireless service providers are doing is questionable. There will undoubtedly be some legal action in the near future concerning this topic.
