July 16th, 2007
T-Mobile UK ordered to stop blocking Truphone connections
One of the first VoIP solutions I tried on the S60 platform was Truphone and at first I was having lots of issues that their tech support team helped me through by actually calling me personally. It turns out it was a DSL modem issue that has since been resolved since I switched to Comcast cable. I then posted a notice on how Truphone was extending their trial offer to landline calls and enjoyed using Truphone on the Nokia E61i and N95. Since then they have actually extended the free landline call offer until the end of 2007! While many S60 users enjoy using Truphone, there was one issue that was raised last month when T-Mobile UK began blocking Truphone.
Today, Truphone won a court injunction against T-Mobile that ruled T-Mobile UK must interconnect with Truphone. This is good news for other VoIP providers and will force carriers to take a good hard look at how to best embrace internet calling and still offer competitive wireless service. The latest Truphone client supports SMS and this may have triggered the blockage by T-Mobile UK since text messaging in a huge revenue generator for carriers in countries outside the U.S. I have unlimited text messaging on all 4 phones of my family plan with T-Mobile USA that only costs me US$20 per month. It is an interesting time as the traditional wireless service provider has to figure out how to compete and/or support the latest in internet calling technologies and I imagine there will continue to be growing pains as the issues get worked out.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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