September 9th, 2005
China May Ban Skype: There Goes eBay’s Bid
By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
Everyone is trying to get a piece of China. That’s no breaking news, but we thought it was interesting that China is slowly banning Skype and therefore essentially wiping out 1.3 BILLION users from Skype’s potential user base.
Our Prediction: $2 Billion eBay Bid for Skype - China’s Population = Auction Over.
“China’s regulators may ban the use of unregulated voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) services that allow PC users to make long-distance calls to overseas fixed-line telephones, the Shanghai Daily reported, noting that China Telecom’s Shenzhen branch has already blacklisted users of SkypeOut. VoIP allows computer users to make international calls at rates far below those charged by fixed-line and mobile operators. A call from China to New York using Skype is 0.3 yuan per minute while a call through China Telecom costs eight yuan per minute, the paper said. It added that the Shenzhen operator will seek to fine users of VoIP products.” Source: Forbes.com
Update from TechDirt: “While most articles suggest the reasoning is to protect revenue, another perfectly reasonable explanation is that they’re afraid of Skype because it lets people communicate without government oversight, something the Chinese government believes is dangerous. Of course, while they claim such communication may be dangerous to the citizenry, what they really mean is it may be dangerous to the government. Of course, it seems like it shouldn’t be that hard for people to work out a way to get around the block by disguising/encrypting the packets in some form or another, because (once again) voice is just data in the end. Update: Thanks to Jeff Nolan for pointing out that the block is supposedly (currently) just around Shenzen, and saying that he has first hand knowledge that Skype is still working, even in Shenzen… So, the details of what’s really going on still seem a bit fuzzy.” Source: TechDirt
Before you go….Try these top stories:
–Long-Awaited HTC Universal, Re-named the iMate JASJAR On Sale
–World’s 1st Wireless Digital Surround Sound System (Marriage-saver)
–Silly Aspiring Filmmaker, the Mattel Vidster is for Kids
–Age of Empires III Demo Available for Download
–Steve Jobs Called: He Wants His Hardware Back
I can’t take it, >GIVE ME MORE Real Tech News
Lockergnome's Tech News Watch says:
China May Ban Skype: There Goes eBay’s Bid
Everyone is trying to get a piece of China. That’s no breaking news, but we thought it was interesting that China is slowly banning Skype and therefore essentially wiping out 1.3 BILLION users from Skype’s potential user base. Our prediction: $2 Bill…
September 9th, 2005 at 11:57 am
Yelling Lizard says:
China to ban Skype?
The message boards are a buzz over the recent report that China may block Skype. And at least one Chinese Telecom has already blacklisted the free VoIP software. Skype allows users around the world to make really cheap calls using their PC or speci…
September 9th, 2005 at 12:48 pm
chris says:
I am surprised that this surprises anyone. Did we forget that China is not a fan of the West. Sure they are in the game but that is not for freedom. They are in the game to further the Chinese state!
September 9th, 2005 at 2:13 pm
JB says:
Hey, that suits me! Too many Chinese users in Skype me mode anyway!
just kidding..sort of
September 9th, 2005 at 8:23 pm
Dan Birchall says:
But China _likes_ the Internet. That’s why there are government-sanctioned Internet portals in China, like Zhaodaola… you know, the one controlled by US televangelist Pat Robertson?
(Yeah. Truth IS stranger than fiction…)
September 9th, 2005 at 11:58 pm
tribe.net: www.realtechnews.com says:
Banninated! (maybe)
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/1806
One telcom branch in China is alrea…
September 10th, 2005 at 12:16 am
John Davies says:
China today, rest of the world’s telcos tomorrow. If Skype is too successful then the telcos who supply the ADSL connections are not going to stand by while their revenues are eroded. Cable companies may be a different matter but in the UK at least they also supply telephone services.
September 10th, 2005 at 3:14 am
John says:
Also note that China’s major home-grown auction site, taobao.com, is in an all-out battle with e-bay to control the domestic online auction scene. With Taobao’s (Alibaba Inc.) clout and likely government connections, they probably encouraged this move to present a setback for Ebay’s eventual victory in the market.
September 11th, 2005 at 7:30 pm
Smiley says:
Chris have you ever thought of the Expat people living in China trying to contact their love ones accross the world? It’s sort of sad to still find people all over the world like you..I live here and run a company, trying to further my personal goals in China, Skype is one of the tools i use to run my company, why should we not be allowed to use it, what have you done to deserve it??
September 18th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
artthatilike says:
CPI is certainly the big economic report of next week, said Timothy Ghriskey, anilaba com chief investment officer at Solaris Asset Management. The Feds beige book and some of the manufacturing numbers will be looked at as well artthatilike http://www.artthatilike.com/info/directory.php/Misc_products/Mortgage_calculator/index.html
August 5th, 2006 at 6:12 am
gnlqdybreg says:
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! rhkxvihnabq
June 21st, 2007 at 5:26 am