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FCC asked to investigate Skype on iPhone

6 April 2009 0:02 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 11 comments

Last week Skype officially released their Skype for iPhone application and Apple says it had been downloaded over one million times in its first 48 hours of availability.

Of note, and of criticism, is the fact that users can only use the application through Wi-Fi, not through cell 3G or EDGE networks. That restriction has been called anti-competitive, and now the Internet advocacy group Free Press has asked the FCC to investigate whether the restriction is illegal.

The public letter uses the FCC's own words in citing the Internet Policy Statement which says �consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their choice� in order to �preserve and promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet.�

Jim Cicconi, AT&T�s top public policy executive, spoke about the allegations, saying the company has �every right not� to promote services of a rival.

�We absolutely expect our vendors...not to facilitate the services of our competitors,� he noted.

�Skype is a competitor, just like Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile,� he added, �Skype has no obligation to market AT&T services. Why should the reverse be true?�

Permalink to this article | Topic: Phones

FCC seeks input on wireless spectrum needs (28 September 2009)

FCC head wants internet competition and ISP transparency (21 September 2009)

AT&T points finger at Apple for rejection of Google Voice App (5 August 2009)

SlingPlayer banned from App Store? (16 April 2009)

Skype founders want the company back (11 April 2009)

Apple makes giant NAND flash memory order (9 April 2009)

Skype now officially available on iPhone (30 March 2009)

Skype headed to iPhones by next week? (28 March 2009)

Mozilla and Skype back iPhone jailbreaking (19 February 2009)

Skype integration headed to Nokia, Ericsson phones (18 February 2009)

Skype headed to iPhone, Storm? (28 January 2009)

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Discuss this article!
KillerBug (Senior Member) 6 April 2009 5:27
If Skype does not want to make it's product available to everyone it will die a quick death, probably before the FCC gets around to doing anything about it. [ + quote]
xnonsuchx (Member) 6 April 2009 8:01
If the FCC did rule against AT&T in this case, the Skype app would probably just not be available at all anymore (except on jailbroken iPhones, perhaps). I wonder how many people would then be pissed off at Free Press for causing the fuss? [ + quote]
plazma247 (Junior Member) 6 April 2009 10:48
Me thinks apple probably made it an requirement to be wifi only or they werent getting a download link in the app store. I dont think skype are the ones to blame here. [ + quote]
Oner (Moderator) 6 April 2009 12:14
*Originally posted by plazma247:* Me thinks apple probably made it an requirement to be wifi only or they werent getting a download link in the app store. I dont think skype are the ones to blame here. It's coming from AT&T since if you can make a phone call through Skype using 3G then your effectively cutting down your usable minutes of which AT&T won't get their cut IF people are going over on their minutes...imagine having a pay for only 3G/Edge Iphone with no cell minutes and using Skype for unlimited in/out calls Worldwide @ +/-$80 YEAR total depending on what promotions etc or less if you do a local territory only ;) Search > http://forums.afterdawn.com/search Rules > http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 Important Rule > http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/380660 [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6 April 2009 12:46
DXR88 (Senior Member) 6 April 2009 12:48
*Quote:* Skype is a competitor, just like Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile,� he added, �Skype has no obligation to market AT&T services. Why should the reverse be true?� No there not. they don't have there own network, there nothing like those company's. and the exact is true they need verizon, T-mobel, to stay alive. [ + quote]
plazma247 (Junior Member) 6 April 2009 13:13
haha it would appear if you have iphone os3 you can make calls over 3g :-p http://www.slashgear.com/iphone-os-30-al...ver-3g-3139501/ [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6 April 2009 13:38
ThePastor (Junior Member) 6 April 2009 18:23
It's things like this that really make the case for OPEN software and against crap companies like Apple or Sony. Let's break this down. There is a service out there that runs absolutely fine on existing hardware and networks that is considerably cheaper and in most respects much better and yet, because the company has a stranglehold on the software they are able to DICTATE that you are REQUIRED to use a much worse technology than the one that is available. This stifles innovation and is downright un american. Apple is fully within their right to restrict their SOFTWARE, but hardware is hardware and they need to BUTT OUT! [ + quote]
MRTGuy (Newbie) 6 April 2009 21:42
AT&T's Jim Cicconi is apparently a moron. Nobody is asking AT&T to promote Skype. We are just asking AT&T not to BLOCK Skype. By the way, Mr. Cicconi, Skype does take calls from AT&T phones via their skype-in feature and it allows you to call to AT&T phones via the skype-out feature. So, in effect, they ARE promoting AT&T. [ + quote]
lxfactor (Senior Member) 7 April 2009 2:04
*Quote:* *Quote:* Skype is a competitor, just like Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile,� he added, �Skype has no obligation to market AT&T services. Why should the reverse be true?� No there not. they don't have there own network, there nothing like those company's. and the exact is true they need verizon, T-mobel, to stay alive. actually they are... skype is a phone calling service.. you can call anywhere.. for pennies to the dollar.. At&t is a calling service too.. which if you forgot.. they do landlines too.. & so does verizon.. check out the new verizon hub that just came out.. just because skype uses an existing internet connection.. doesnt mean they arent competitors.. skype doesnt need anything to stay alive.. its been used for a while now.. it has great features and its only expanding.. and now a days wi-fi is everywhere.. i rather use free internet than to pay for data.. just to make a call.. but also think about it... pay 9.99 for unlimited data.. and make all the calls u want for a few bucks a month and have ur own number.. AT&T would be shooting themselfs in the foot if they promoted that.. but allowing skype on iphones is a step foward to have multiple choices in way to connect to the outside world.. lets say u didnt pay ur bill and they cut ur phone off.. wouldnt u be happy u can still make calls via ur home wifi network.. [ + quote]
ak472009 (Newbie) 7 April 2009 7:21
it is just plain greed that people are showing from at&t //the technology behind is now digital saving bandwidth and money for providers //but yet my cell phone bill gets high everytime //and if you find anything that is cheaper //the provider simply want it to blocked [ + quote]
DXR88 (Senior Member) 7 April 2009 12:13
Thats my point they require a network whether it be mine, yours, GTE, Bellsouth's. they need a network to communicate through. Where as AT$T as that already setup. [ + quote]