Skype is Fighting Back

Skype has filed a complaint with the US FCC over what it considers unfair control that mobile service providers are exibiting. According to the complaint, carriers are blocking consumers from using software applications on mobile phones that would give them the option of using VoIP different from the mobile phone provider.

Today, many handsets are being sold with the VoIP application preinstalled. The Open Mobile Terminal Platform (a group that includes many of the industry’s top network operators and handset manufacturers) insist that operators are entitled to lock down VoIP applications on those handsets that are subsidized.

It will interesting to see if Skype comes out on top in the complaint to the FCC. While the reasoning behind the industry position is almost understandable, it seems that the uninformed consumer is the one that is hurting the most.