Consumer activist group Free Press has asked the FCC to investigate AT&T’s refusal to allow Skype to access its wireless network on the iPhone, instead restricting it to WiFi.
Free Press alleges that this restriction is “designed to cripple applications or hinder consumer choice for anticompetitive purposes,” which would be an illegal practice. An AT&T spokesman replied that AT&T has “no obligation-nor should we have-to facilitate or subsidise our competitors’ businesses.”
The issue is part of Free Press’s commitment to pursuing net neutrality across all platforms, and not really a way for iPhone users to shirk their voice bill. After all, iPhone plans include mandatory voice plans in addition to data, so the potential money saved would really only be significant for international or roaming calls. President Obama’s FCC chairman nominee, Julius Genachowski, is a supporter of net neutrality, so the FCC may indeed act in Skype’s favour as a symbolic gesture. But AT&T, despite their reputation, is not the faceless evil tyrant in this case: Certainly they should be allowed to protect their core business.
At the moment, the FCC has not responded, though it is highly likely they will investigate further. [Wall Street Journal]
Sydney Australia
Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 9:41 AMMobile companies make 85 cents of every dollar in profit. The other 10 cents is to pay for sending you the bill and the expensive receivable departments. 5c goes to maintenance.
So providing free calls is a feasible option anyway, and i hate being ripped off…
Now when we do have chance to get free calls and just pay for the data, we are not allowed. AT&T and whoever is stopping this, are living in the past, wake up…. and prepare for the future…
Stamps are out dated, so is Kodac films, and soon will mobile phone calls that we have to pay for…