Re: Skype's iPhone App: Open-Internet Advocacy Group asks FCC to Investigate Restriction Imposed on VOiP Calls over 3G - iPhone Hacks

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jeff Porten <civitan () jeffporten com>
Date: April 5, 2009 5:59:02 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] Skype's iPhone App: Open-Internet Advocacy Group  
asks FCC to Investigate Restriction Imposed on VOiP Calls over 3G -  
iPhone Hacks

My understanding is that the 3G limitation for Skype calls is lifted  
in the 3.0 iPhone OS X release that's slated in a few months. Like  
data tethering over Bluetooth, which is also in the 3.0 release, this  
will be subject to the terms of services of each carrier.

I've been amused to watch the business press completely miss the point  
of AT&T's motivations here -- everyone is focusing on how "livid" AT&T  
must be that the onus has been placed on them to allow this to occur.  
But if you want any unlimited data plan, you're starting at the not  
particularly cheap contract of $60 per month -- and AT&T has the  
capacity to charge extra for services like tethering, as they  
currently do with other handheld devices with a $40-$60 monthly  
surcharge. I don't see how the FCC has the authority to rule that AT&T  
must provide unlimited Skype service for free.

Meanwhile, as an early adopter of Google Voice in conjunction with a  
free Gizmo account, I already have effectively unlimited free service  
outgoing within the United States, which I can use simultaneously with  
any cell phone when I'm away from my laptop. That allows me to use an  
arbitrarily cheap cell phone service; I'm writing up a chapter for a  
recession-busting self-employment book which describes how a power  
user can drop their cell phone bills to $10-$20 per month, using a $10  
prepaid handset. If AT&T is reading the same writing on the wall,  
they're likely to be chortling with glee that Skype will drive iPhone  
users to stay with far more expensive monthly plans in two-year  
contracts. Minute overages are only one of many ways they can keep  
their bottom lines flush.

Best,
Jeff Porten





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