April 6, 2009
Skype's iPhone App Sparks Wireless Net Neutrality Debate
Carriers on both sides of the Atlantic have reacted predictably to the roll-out of Skype's iPhone application last week, fearing that the service will eat into their already declining voice revenues. The Washington Post reports.
In the US, iPhone distributor AT&T has restricted its use over Wi-Fi networks while in Germany, the gadget's exclusive carrier partner has said it has banned its use.
... But now two groups, one in the US, and one in Europe, are pressing regulators to come down in favor of VoIP applications on mobile. In the US, net neutrality advocacy group Free Press has asked the FCC to investigate whether Apple and AT&T are acting unlawfully by restricting the use of Skype's application to Wi-Fi networks.
The group wants the FCC to clarify and confirm that net neutrality laws extend to wireless networks, or as the group's policy council Chris Riley said in a statement, "The FCC must make it crystal clear that a closed Internet will not be tolerated on any platform."
Read full article.
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