Professor
Mr. Louis Voit
Semester
Spring 2007
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The article presents the debacle between Skype and Verizon Wireless. Both entities are divided over Skype's application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make cellular handsets accessible by other third-party applications. A previous FCC decision in the late 1960s, referred to as Carterphone, had paved the way for third-party applications to be used on fixed line services. Skype's position is that mobile telephone service providers should be required to submit to the same principles. Skype, along with other third-party applications would benefit by having headsets available. The current situation is that service providers usually lock headsets, blocking their usage within other networks. Once this restriction is removed there are potential benefits to non-mobile phone service providers. The cellular telephone providers would, however, stand to lose significant revenue. Subscribers would be at liberty to access services from other applications thereby diminishing the demand for traditional cellular services. |
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The increasing numbers of internet phone service providers would be well advised to follow developments in this discussion as the decision made by the FCC could impact the industry. Both private individuals and corporations would find mobile access to cheap international calling a very economical venture given the globalization of business where daily communication takes place on a global scale. Customers also, who are constrained by being confined to a fixed phone line or in front of a computer to access these services would be interested in the outcome of the debate. Definitely if companies such a Skype combine cheaper rates to call internationally with mobile headsets, I would definitely contemplate using this service. |
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