José Ribamar Smolka Ramos
Telecomunicações
Artigos e Mensagens
ComUnidade
WirelessBrasil
Abril 2009 Índice Geral
06/04/09
• Skype para o iPhone, N97 e BlackBerry: 1 milhão de downloads em 2 dias
----- Original Message -----
From: J. R. Smolka
To: wirelessbr@yahoogrupos.com.br
Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 4:32 PM
Subject: [wireless.br] Skype para o iPhone, N97 e BlackBerry: 1 milhão de
downloads em 2 dias
Isto ocorreu com a aplicação cliente Skype para o iPhone, N97 e BlackBerry.
Operadoras celulares, previsivelmente, não gostaram.
Matéria transcrita abaixo:
Fonte: Rethink Wireless
[06/04/09]
Cellcos uneasy as iPhone Skype sees 1m downloads in two days
[ ]'s
J. R. Smolka
------------------------------------------------
Fonte: Rethink Wireless
[06/04/09]
Cellcos uneasy as iPhone Skype sees 1m downloads in two days
In creating its mobile client and launching it on the iPhone, Nokia N97 and
BlackBerry - all key generators of high operator ARPU - Skype has put the cat
among the pigeons, and big hitters on both side of the open internet debate are
using the Skype issue to put their case. Consumer advocacy group The Free Press
called on the FCC, in a statement on Friday, to force carriers to allow Skype
access on their networks; while US cellcos remained predictably negative.
"With Skype and VoIP clients in general, we don't prohibit them on our network,
but at the same time we don't encourage them on our network," Scott McElroy, AT&T's
VP of operations, told Unstrung, representing the views of most cellcos, apart
from a few openness pioneers like 3. The carriers' justification for downplaying
Skype is that they cannot guarantee the performance of the application, as they
will do with their own carrier VoIP apps in future (though the iPhone Skype
client only uses Wi-Fi, not 3G).
Deutsche Telekom also came out with warnings about using Skype on the iPhone -
even on Wi-Fi, use of the client could contravene T-Mobile terms and conditions,
it pointed out on Friday, citing the risk of 'non-compliance' with its network.
However, the ban does not apply to T-Mobile USA, which seems to weaken this
argument. Meanwhile, Telefonica allows Skype over Wi-Fi but not 3G, and Vodafone,
like the US majors, does not actively encourage it, but does not impose
sanctions.
Fears about application performance are not stopping users from downloading the
client software, which has significantly improved the Skype experience on
cellphones - some vendors, like Hutchison INQ and Nokia, will even optimize
certain models for the voice system. The iPhone Skype version has sparked a
superfast distribution process - there were one million downloads in the first
two days, according to the software house.
This wave of user enthusiasm is likely to have more impact in changing operators'
minds than any advocacy groups, but the Free Press is trying to get legal
clarity in the US too. It called on the FCC to require wireless carriers to
allow consumers access to Skype via smartphones, as well as the ability to
connect their devices to the internet through tethering applications on their
cellphones. This has been another source of cellco unease, which hit the
spotlight again recently when Google was reported to have banned a tethering app
from Android Market, perhaps to assuage T-Mobile USA. Free Press also cites
reports that AT&T may seek to block Skype, despite its recent comments about
being cautiously open to the app.
Its letter says: "Recent reports about application blocking again raise these
questions. Regardless of whether any particular incident would be found in
violation of the law, the lingering uncertainty surrounding consumer rights on
the internet indicates the need for the Commission to clarify its rules. To
resolve any alleged ambiguity raised by parties in earlier proceedings, the
Commission should confirm that the Internet Policy Statement applies to wireless
service providers that offer broadband internet access service, as has been
acknowledged in prior proceedings and statements of sitting Commissioners.
Furthermore, the Commission should request more information on the extent of the
wireless providers' role in and their justifications for these widely reported
behaviors."