Skype Wants Open Wireless Networks > A Universal Cell Phone?

reply to CyberTrip

Re: A Universal Cell Phone?

why doesn't skype build its own network and open it up and teach the "big meanie" companies a lesson

oh yea I know why because they know they would lose their ass

the internet has turned into a world of people wanting everything for nothing

huge bandwith for pennies a month.....open access on networks built with others money

free music

free software

the list is endless.....but fools will soon find when no one makes money on anything then there will probably be little if anything offered

look at the two that posted above....im sure they are all for gov. regulations and open access....right up until it cost THEM some of THEIR money

if you don't like the restrictions on a network don't use it.....go somewhere else....if no one else (shockingly) offers you the world for nothing then do with out....stop crying to the government to step in....or better yet start your own network then AOL, and Skype, and Earthlink and everyone else can come ride it for free.....come on what is stopping you....it is a GREAT idea right....it would be really COOL right.....come on step up and build it and give it away....or are you too scared

Skype requires little bandwidth.
'We' the consumer pay $$$ for connectivity and access to what's on the web.
Why should we have to pay for a 'private' web?
Spammers probably use 1000x more bandwidth than Skype does.
I suspect those downloading p0rn or other media off the web also use MUCH more bandwidth.

reply to rodrod5
People, including myself, want what they paid for. They also would like some choices. On top of that they want to have mistakes corrected before next ice age. I can see that it might be very difficult concept for you...

reply to en102
I bought a Corvette, but I wanted a Hemi in it

I think GM should allow me to have them put any engine I want in the cars they build.....after all Im buying the car I should get what I want.....waaaa waaaa

I want Exxon to carry Shell gas....it is all gas from a pump right....why should "WE" the consumer have to have only one choice of gas at a station..."WE" already pay for the pumps and the stations and stuffs

I think NBC should show a few of the shows I like on Fox on the CBS channel.....after all "WE" already paid for the stations and the TV....I WANT I WANT I WANT......waaa waaa

oh wait there is one thing I don't want.....to pay for any of it

if you are not happy with the restrictions on what you are offered, don't take the offer, move on (no really move on not pretend moveon like the organization of fools)

why should you have to pay for something YOU want....because the rest of us don't want to pay for it

it is like the fools in the bandwith/caps threads.....I want an OS3/DS3 for 22.12 a month and I want to suck all the bandwith from it while my neighbors crawl...and I want a guaranteed TOS in there and a 10 minute truck roll time and ONE MILLION dollars if it goes down

oh wait you want me to pay 700 a month for that.....waaaa waaaa....I want to free load on everyone else......waaaaaa.....waaaaaaa

reply to rodrod5
And we used to only be allowed to have big clunky Western Electric telephones attached to our Ma Bell phone lines. It was called a monopoly and it was called restraint of trade and eventually it was called illegal. And there were probably folks back then that said anybody who wants to use their own telephone equipment should go out and build their own telephone network instead of freeloading off of Ma Bell...

reply to rodrod5
"why doesn't skype build its own network and open it up and teach the "big meanie" companies a lesson

oh yea I know why because they know they would lose their ass"

...I agree with your first point...

I've never seen a Skype tower anywhere...

While it may be unfortunate, it's the cellular company's towers we're talking about here right???

They agree to share w/other providers because they get PAID every time another user connects through it.

Ever hear of "roaming" charges??? ..That's because your cell company also has to pay whoever for the tower you were using.

Somehow I doubt the land, construction, equipment, maintenance, upkeep, personnel, AND access lines (some of which go back to where?? ..Ma Bell) are anywhere near cheap...

And who in their right mind would think Skype would still let you make an international call through this system for $.02???

Seriously, it'd be nice... someday... when data is much cheaper to move wirelessly. Right now, cell companies control their towers and what goes through them...

Sure, I can agree w/having more of a universal phone that I could take from one provider to the next - and some phones, you CAN still do this... but Skype wanting in on the fun is just not feasible right now.

Sure, having to go with the phones your company provides is kind of ludicrous, but this isn't the approach to fix the problem. Customer rights for handsets might be a better start - so that you could take a (say, CDMA) phone with you to another company if you really liked it and they don't have the same thing...

reply to Supervisor
EXACTLY

and that monopoly had Gov. regulations on it....just like the first two posters are asking for

strangly when people DID go out and build their own networks then the competition heated up

there is no need for anyone to build anything new when they can free load off of others with Gov. regulation like is being ask in this thread

if you don't like the choices offered then do without or do it yourself....there is no law preventing you from doing so (unlike in the past when Ma Bell was the only REGULATED game in town)

so your example proves the point.....do without the regulation and allow the free market to compete....don't have the Gov. step and allow others to free load as is being ask in this thread....again you have a CHOICE....just because the CHOICES don't offer you free pie in the sky..pe does not mean the Gov. needs to step in and regulate...it means you need to choose with your dollars....and maybe get a grip on what the few shekels you are willing to pay for something will get you

reply to Sircolby45
You pay for minutes whether you use them or not. How could this cost the wireless phone companies money? It's not like you get a refund if you don't use your phone.
--
Toolmaster of La Grange.

reply to Supervisor
Good point, but there's a big difference here.

A Cellular phone is not the same as a "Skype" phone. One uses straight up CDMA, AMPS, GSM, or whathaveyou. Skype is simply data packets, which they wish to push through the cellular network.

Guess what. Networks are NOT up to the task yet. Some are, but most aren't yet, especially in rural areas.

If Skype wants in on this, they should develop their own towers - maybe use WiMax or something.. Point is, be more cooperative about the solution instead of griping about it.

This isn't about "restraint" of anything, it's a matter of reality here. Would Skype be willing to make a full on CDMA/AMPS phone that operated solely within the limitations of current cellular technolgy??? Doubt it.

Much as I'd love to see this happen, I don't see it as technologically possible on a wide scale yet. Tech is too different still...

The "telephone network" is obviously still accessible to Skype... how else do you think they work? ..The accessible issue here is wireless technology and they're wanting a ride on something that's not designed for what they want to do with it. Sure, it maybe POSSIBLE in THEORY to do, but what about all the details??? Are they going to fund the research??? Are they going to go through all the "can you hear me now?" fun times??? Are they going to pay for access to the trunks at each tower like everyone else???
...It'd be pointless at this stage.

reply to rodrod5
Point taken about the monopoly. But the restraint of trade issue still exists... what else would you call needlessly limiting the devices that can be used with a public network?

reply to mcmillan

reply to rodrod5
Hey you forgot most important one

Free Pr0n!!! - Gotta have that

reply to Supervisor
it is not a PUBLIC network

it is owned by a company not the public

and I call it being able to provide what you promised to ALL customers not just the few who want others to pay for their power use

as was clearly stated in the article cell towers are built to circuit switch not packet switch so allowing a lot of packet traffic slows the network for EVERYONE (I know that is not important to most on here)

why should I have to pay for upgraded towers ect. when all I want to do is turn my phone on and make a call on it and talk and hang up.....if someone else wants to use skype and plug in their laptops and everything else then they need to find a carrier and a plan and PAY for that PRIVILAGE.....not force the rest of us (that are content with what was offered for the price) to cost share for you

it is the same as someone asking why they can not use 100% of the bandwith available at the node for their residential cable connection while only paying about 10% of what the actual cost of providing that product is.....because eventually when all of your neighbors drop the service because they can't get on then you will be left to cover 100% of the cost of what you recieve....then you will use that last bit of bandwith (before your provider goes broke) to come here to dslreports and bitch that your provider went under because all of your idiot neighbors would not subsidize your hogging

Uh, yes it is a public network. Public airwaves, FCC regulated, limited resources, and all that.

reply to mcmillan

reply to Supervisor
the spectrum is public and was bid out to the highest bidder

the network built to operate on that spectrum is private....there are multiple carriers on that spectrum as well....chose one...if you don't like what is offered go to the public auction bid on some spectrum and let skype come freeload off of the network you build to operate on that spectrum

you will only convince freeloaders and deadbeats that your point is valid with these WEAK arguements

as was pointed out you signed up for cellular service not a skype backbone

stop trying to have others subsidize your desires

reply to rodrod5
Dang... Well, at least I guess we know what Ed Whitacre's DSLR userid is.

reply to rodrod5
For what its worth, I've never even used Skype, but the PUBLIC airwaves, most of which are auctioned, are subject to regulation, whether you like it or not. Regulations that in this case, I suspect, will eventually include allowing end users to operate any devices with any software ("crippled bluetooth" anyone?) they want, as long as it does not interfere with other users of the PUBLIC network. Same way as I can plug whatever telephone I want into the PUBLIC telephone network. What's the problem with me using a Skype (or any other) device on a PUBLIC network, as long as I pay whatever the standard rate per minute or per call or per MB is on that network? If it's a PRIVATE network, sure they can do what they want, but it's a PUBLIC network. I assume that is Skype's point with taking it to the FCC.