T-Mobile UK confirms VoIP ban (But it may change its mind on IM)

[Hands0n]

It may be hard for T-Mobile to ignore or deny IM from its customers for very long - especially as 3 have stolen a march on the game.

Anyone for leapfrog?

T-Mobile UK believes VoIP isn't sufficiently consistent or capable of providing calls of a high enough quality calls to be allowed into its mobile phone network, the carrier said to day in response to revelations it has effectively banned the technology from its latest data-oriented airtime package.

However, the company did say it is considering allowing the use of instant messaging on its network "later in the year". For now, though, IM is likewise off-limits to the company's customers.

Earlier this week, Reg Hardware revealed that the terms and conditions underpinning T-Mobile UK's Web 'n' Walk Professional airtime package, which focuses on GPRS and 3G data connectivity, makes it clear VoIP and IM are not to be used.

"Use of Voice over Internet Protocol and Messaging over Internet Protocol [over the service] is prohibited by T-Mobile," the Ts&Cs read. "If use of either or both of these services is detected, T-Mobile may terminate all contracts with the customer and disconnect any SIM cards and/or Web ‘n’ Walk cards from the T-Mobile network."

We asked T-Mobile to comment on the policy. It said: "Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in a wireless environment is an emerging technology. In our view, the technology is not yet of a consistent or high enough level of quality to offer a good customer experience on the T-Mobile network. This situation may change in the future, but for now we believe it is in the best interests of our customers to restrict the use of VoIP technology. We are also looking to provide an Instant Messaging (IM) solution for our customers later in the year."

Will T-Mobile's attitude relax when it enables its HSDPA 3G network? That technology will "allow customers to experience speeds of up to six times faster than current 3G speeds", the carrier told us. Its recently launched Web 'n' Walk Pro Data Card is "mobile broadband ready", according to T-Mobile, suggesting that while the 3G card isn't broadband now, it will be when HSDPA becomes available.

Hopefully, the big bandwidth boost will allow customers to use Skype as quite a few of them, if Reg Hardware readers are anything to by, want to do. ®

Article Source: The Register

[Bleubean]

I dont no how -T-Mobile would enforce a VOIP and IM blanket ban. From my understanding it would take a great amount of time and effort to track down and warn customers who do this without loosing themselves precious business.

As for IM, how can they tell you are using IM? Surely its just packets of data between two internet addresses?

Im possibly wrong, but itd be great if anyone could clarify for me?

[Ben]

With VoIP they can make life difficult by blocking the ports used by popular services such as Skype. Of course, this isn't necessarily what they'd do - I think they just want to put customers off - but it should be possible.

With IM it's more difficult. Unless I'm mistaken services like MSN can communicate over port 80 if needs be. Surely some of their MDA devices have clients like mobile MSN preinstalled so I'm not sure what their plan is for that... I can't see them telling an MDA user they can't have MSN on...

[Hands0n]

With the use of [for example] packet shapers they will be able to control and monitor the flow of almost any application you care to mention. The well known apps such as VoIP and IM are often predefined in such devices. Thus these can be monitored, reported on and even controlled or blocked.

[miffed]

Originally Posted by Ben

With VoIP they can make life difficult by blocking the ports used by popular services such as Skype. Of course, this isn't necessarily what they'd do - I think they just want to put customers off - but it should be possible.

With IM it's more difficult. Unless I'm mistaken services like MSN can communicate over port 80 if needs be. Surely some of their MDA devices have clients like mobile MSN preinstalled so I'm not sure what their plan is for that... I can't see them telling an MDA user they can't have MSN on...

both my MDA Vario and MDA pro came with MSN messenger preinstalled - I remember reading T & C somewhere and don't recall any restriction on IM , only VOIP , P2P and modem access

I have , of course , been using MSN and have so far not been charged anything , or had any "warnings"
I am happy with the exlusion of VOIP and to be honest would not expect a mobile phone provider not to restrict such a service - but for me , restricting IM would be taking the restrictions to far

[3GScottishUser]

You can use VoIP services with Vodafone. I have used VoIPstunt to make calls with my Samsung Z500 acting as a modem via Bluetooth.

As an experiment all worked well but I'm not sure how viable this would be. The data charging might just be the factor to restrict the functionality.