Google voice: AT&T says it violates net neutrailty laws

by Wirehead



After watching the video (highly recommended), you can request an invite for Google voice here: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

AT&T sent a letter to the FCC protesting Google's blocking of telephone calls from consumers that use its Google Voice service to call phone numbers with inflated access charges in certain rural areas.  By blocking these calls, Google reduces its access expenses, giving it an advantage phone carriers are prevented from enjoying and thus skewering the competition principles in U.S. network neutrality laws, AT&T claims.  Google argued that Google Voice must not be accorded the same treatment as services from phone carriers. AT&T sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission protesting Google's blocking of telephone calls from consumers that use its Google Voice service to call phone numbers with inflated access charges in certain rural areas. By blocking these calls, Google reduces its access expenses, giving it an advantage phone carriers are prevented from enjoying and thus skewering the competition principles in U.S. network neutrality laws. Google Voice is a Web-based phone management service the search engine offers to let users funnel all of their phone calls via one new number to work, home and mobile phones. Rightardia comment: AT&T is wandering into a murky area because most phone lines use old analogue lines or digital Integrated Services Data Network (ISDN) that are that many businesses use. Google voice runs over  Internet data networks, rather than voice networks, and is probably Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) based. AT&T may be comparing apples to oranges. Many Internet Service providers like Comcast are prioritizing data traffic and to give a lower priority to streaming video that is bandwidth intensive. Most arguments about 'net neutrality' have pertained to data networks rather than voice. See the rest of the article at http://www.eweek.com/c/a/VOIP-and-Telephony/ATandT-Tells-FCC-Google-Voice-Violates-Network-Neutrality-Laws-697091/

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