AT&T Claims Google Voice Violates Net Neutrality
Posted 09/25/09 at 08:03:25 PM by Ryan Whitwam
Comments
Print
Email
AT&T has sent a rather pointed letter to the FCC accusing Google of violating Network Neutrality standards. No, that isn’t a typo. AT&T’s beef is that Google Voice will not connect calls to some numbers that traditional telecoms are required to connect. This is because of so-called “common carrier” laws.
Some rural local telephone carriers charge long distance companies extremely high fees to connect calls to certain numbers on their networks. These are usually numbers for conference call centers, adult chat lines, or party lines. Sneakily, revenues from these connections are shared with the owners of the lines. Google Voice does not connect these calls, and AT&T thinks that isn’t fair.
It is interesting that Google, a company that strongly supports Net Neutrality, is taking this course of action. AT&T seems to want them to be treated like any other telecom, but in Google’s response, they lay out their rationale for why AT&T should shut it.
Google says that first and foremost, Google Voice is a free service. To make it workable, they simply cannot spend money to connect those calls. They also say that Google Voice is software, and software isn’t covered by common carriers rules. Finally, they claim that since Google Voice is an invite-only beta service, it doesn’t need to comply with all regulations.
So, is this just AT&T trying to distract the FCC, or is Google really in the wrong here?
Maybe
Submitted by CorbanT on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 5:01pm
Maybe AT&T is just trying to put it's weight against Google given the recent conflict between Apple and Google over Google Voice.
I mean, regardless of what AT&T really thinks, AT&T wouldn't want to jeopardize their relationship with Apple. In the end, I'd say it's all politics.
... As one user on
Submitted by I Jedi on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 1:54pm
... As one user on TechCrunch put it,"You can't divide Net Neutrality into Black and White."
Submitted by MeTo on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 8:51am
Since when is AT&T a court of law. AT&T if this is true sue Google and let a judge decide. In America you are innocent till proven guilty.
Submitted by TechJunkie on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 9:55pm
AT&T is just upset at the fact that GV circumvents AT&T's proprietary monolithic way of thinking....that if your using GV, your not using AT&T's software, or airtime for that matter. Your using data as GV uses a beta form of a cellular VoIP. So using data as voice instead of actual airtime, there would be little chance of you going over your minutes and them charging you out the ass. AT&T doesn't like them odds. SO AT&T...I'm glad I'm with sprint because I can call all the cell users in your network and run thier minutes up every day of the year and it won't cost me one red cent! Take that you commie bastards! ;)
Not so much...
Submitted by Ryan Whitwam on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 10:45pm
That's not actually correct. GV is not VoIP. It still uses your minutes, it just connects to a Google number as a middleman. That lets you do all the cool stuff GV does.
And it's not AT&T's software, it's Apple's. Apple rejected GV.
My default answer is always
Submitted by Tekzel on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 6:31pm
My default answer is always that AT&T is in the wrong, no matter what it is they are involved in. If ever there were a company that is heart of darkness, it is AT&T. In fact, I am convinced that their board of directors is a bunch of demons, and the chairman is Beelzebub himself.
O canada
Submitted by johnny3144 on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:18am
you havn't seen canada's carrier... if you have, AT&T is like a saint. not saying they are a saint when compare to carriers from state thou.
Which one?
Submitted by 1337Goose on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 2:10pm
Which Canadian carrier are you talking about?
~Goose
Submitted by 1337Goose on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 6:55pm
I don't have AT&T in my area, but from what I've been able to collect from MaxPC and a few of my buddies in the states, AT&T is some sort of pseudo-cell provider that never works just the way you need it to when you need it to. Can somebody confirm or deny?
~Goose
Never had a major issue.
Submitted by tri8gman on Sat, 09/26/2009 - 11:09am
I use a Samsung Epix to start. I find that the handset people use has a WHOLE LOT to do with their service quality, in addition to the area they live in. I've been back and forth betweeen South Jersey and the middle of Delaware a couple times and had at least OK service if I didn't have great service. I'd also say I'm a very heavy data user, using the phone to get email off multiple accounts, remote back to a home server, and browse the web frequently. The only problems I've seemed to have are losing media connectivity after an hour of straight downloading (the handset might be to blame as this actually makes it quite warm) and a couple billing errors when modifying my plan (which were quickly and easily fixed).
As for the article, I take Google's side as they are not the ones in charge of infrastructure and providing direct service. Google's services rely on others.
Submitted by Ryan Whitwam on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 7:14pm
I've had AT&T for quite a while. While the service has gone down in quality since the iPhone craze, it's still mostly fine in my area. Though the cost is a bit out of control for what you get.
I have an HTC Hero on pre-order... we'll see how that goes.
Sig Worthy
Submitted by Peanut Fox on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 6:33pm
Sir, your comment is sig worthy. :)
Must Read Articles
Feature
Review
Feature
Feature
Feature
Most Popular Articles
This Month's Issue
FEATURE How to Get FREE Programs, Services, Software & MoreFEATURE Digital Photo Printer RoundupHOW TOBuild a 3D CameraFEATUREDIY Arcade PCWHITE PAPERHow TRIM Works
Technology News
Computer Cooling Fans
Computer Cases
PC Game Controllers
PC Games
Computer Hardware
Headphones
MP3 Players
Stream Video
Computer Mouse
Monitors
Motherboards
NAS Storage
Networking
Laptop Computers
DVD Burner
Digital Cameras
Portable Storage
Computer Accessories
Smartphone
Antivirus Software
Sound Cards
Speakers
Computer Systems
Thumb Drives
Video Cameras
Video Card Reviews
Water Cooling
Gadgets
- Keyboards
© 2009 Future US, Inc. All Rights Reserved.