Group urges FCC to open AT&T’s 3G to Skype on iPhone

An advocacy group today asked the Federal Communications Commission to decide whether AT&T Inc. and Apple Inc. have broken federal rules by blocking iPhone owners from using the recently released Skype voice-over-IP (VoIP) service on AT&T’s 3G wireless network. “If you look at the consumer rights [spelled out] in the FCC’s Internet Policy Statement, there is a chance that they might be violation by this practice,” said Chris Riley, the policy counsel at Free Press, a Washington-based media reform group

Free Press Calls on FCC to Protect Wireless Net Neutrality

WASHINGTON — In a letter to the Federal Communications Commission today, Free Press called on the agency to confirm that wireless networks must adhere to the Internet Policy Statement, which protects consumers’ right to access any online content and services on any device of their choosing.

“Wireless broadband networks cannot become a safe haven for discrimination,” said Chris Riley, policy counsel of Free Press. “The Internet in your pocket should be just as free and open as the Internet in your home. The FCC must make it crystal clear that a closed Internet will not be tolerated on any platform.”

In a USA Today article this week, a senior AT&T official suggested that the carrier expects device vendors to block consumers’ access to Skype — a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application that competes with AT&T’s own voice service — on its 3G network. The company has also changed its wireless terms of service to prohibit “customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device” — a pre-emptive strike against innovative mobile video technologies.

AT&T is not the only carrier limiting consumers’ wireless Internet access. T-Mobile is reportedly restricting the availability of tethering applications — services that allow consumers to use their cell phones to connect their computers to the Internet — within Google’s Android Marketplace. And most major wireless companies have terms of service that prohibit the use of certain applications and services.

“This issue is not new — it is simply unresolved. Wise voices at the FCC have long said that the Internet Policy Statement applies to wireless,” said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. “As more and more consumers begin to access the Internet wirelessly, it is critical that the FCC clarifies that online consumer protections that prohibit blocking are the same regardless of how we access the Web.”

VoIP Providers Call On EU To Ensure Free Access

Internet calling companies such as eBay unit Skype have called on European policymakers to adopt policies that let consumers access their services through smart phones on any public network.

The Voice on the Net (VON) coalition Europe, which also includes Google Inc, Microsoft Corp and Intel Corp, argues carriers are blocking their applications on their cellular or 3G networks, which limits consumer choice

Orange Business Services More Than Doubles Capacity of Latin American Next-Generation Network

PARIS & MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In anticipation of growing business demand, Orange Business Services has increased the capacity of its next generation IP network in Latin America by two and a half times. The expanded network capacity has been implemented in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela. Additional upgrades are planned for Honduras and Panama in 2009. In addition, Orange is deploying new leading-edge network equipment to offer new services, such as Multicast, Telepresence and Network Boost, a network-based application performance management solution.

Latin America is a key market for us, and we are seeing an increase in global expansion by both our multinational and our Latin American customers,” said Javier Semerene, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Latin America, Orange Business Services. “With our new infrastructure enhancements, we can deliver even more redundancy and new advanced services to ensure a world-class customer experience.”

In addition to network services – via its regional network with 160 points-of-presence (PoPs) across 31 countries – Orange offers integration and professional services and has more than 500 customer service and operations professionals at its major Customer Service Center based in Brazil. As a single source provider, Orange is uniquely able to provide true global end-to-end services with reporting and SLAs that are measurable and meaningful to its clients’ businesses. In Latin America, as well as around the world, Orange is able to manage all facets of customers’ communications needs, including deployment, installation, on-site maintenance and service management.

With sales offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, Orange Business Services counts Belcorp, Cargill, Cementos BIO BIO, PricewaterhouseCoopers and PROSA among its customers in Latin America.