German carrier blocks use of Skype iPhone app
updated 12:25 pm EDT, Thu April 2, 2009
Germany halts iPhone Skype
German iPhone owners have been banned from fully exploiting the recently-released Skype app, writes the Associated Press. In spite of the title being legally available to download from the country's App Store, T-Mobile warns that it considers use of the app on its network a violation of contract. All VoIP services on the iPhone have been blocked since 2007, notes a representative for T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom.
In explanation, the representative claims that VoIP apps could slow down T-Mobile's network; Skype lawyer Robert Miller insists, however, that the app should not slow down cellular services. It is also believed that many carriers see VoIP as a threat to their profit models, which are dependent on per-minute charging for voice calls. Skype is able to circumvent this by offering free calls to other Skype users, and cheaper plans for calling conventional phones.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000
Skype doesn't use cell!
"T-Mobile warns that it considers use of the app on its network a violation of contract" -- but the app doesn't use the cell connection. Wifi only, in part because Wifi is faster and so there won't be as much latency, which is important for voice calls but isn't noticed (as much) for things like downloading webpages.The cell carrier has no right to dictate what apps users run on their own (or others') wifi networks, especially if they are personal home networks. Hopefully someone has corrected these guys by now. It's scary that the company responsible for selling and activating these phones doesn't know how they work.