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Skype Pushing Hard for North American Cell Phone Users

North America Last to Unlock Cell Phones to Networks

Skype is pushing the FCC to limit and control how cell phone providers issue cell phones. Right now, if you purchase a cell phone on plan with any carrier you're phone is either locked permanently or locked to the specific carrier. You cannot take your phone and place it on another carrier without serious hassle and third party help.

Although some cell phones are locked to networks, CDMA to CDMA and GSM to GSM, they are also locked to carriers. Skype said carriers go to great lengths to keep cell phone users, or at least their phones, locked in. (Mind you, on the flip side, they have to recoup losses for cheap phones somehow.)

Skype says these practices violate longstanding FCC rules that allow consumers to use any device to connect to the U.S. phone network. These rules, adopted in 1968 before the cell phone, paved the way for a crush of telecommunications products, including answering and fax machines, cordless phones and computer modems. Skype argues the rule should include wireless phones.

Of course, Skype have their own motives for the push, they want to get involved in the wireless market as well, but the locked phones makes it difficult. Here's the problem: To use Skype's services on a wireless device, customers must go to Skype's website, www.skype.com, and download special software.

As soon as you launch, you immediately violate the terms of your service contract. Skype has asked the FCC to order cellphone carriers to stop blocking software applications offered by other companies.

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