AT&T Relents: Skype and Google Voice Now Over 3G!

[FanIn80]

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/10/06/...mobile-network
(http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pi...rticleid=27207)

Bam!

[Azure]

Could this be because Verizon did it first?

[Azure]

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/06...ice-isnt-voip/

[FanIn80]

I don't get what the point is behind this Google Voice thing. It's not even VoIP? It just uses your existing cell connection, but gives you a new number. What's the point of that?

I mean, sure having a second number is useful... but using your cell phone minutes? Why wouldn't someone just use Skype or the new Vonage app and use your 6GB data bucket (or, even better, WiFi), and still get all the same benefits?

I must be missing something here, since there were a lot of people upset about it being denied...

[Flaming Choy]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I don't get what the point is behind this Google Voice thing. It's not even VoIP? It just uses your existing cell connection, but gives you a new number. What's the point of that?

I mean, sure having a second number is useful... but using your cell phone minutes? Why wouldn't someone just use Skype or the new Vonage app and use your 6GB data bucket (or, even better, WiFi), and still get all the same benefits?

I must be missing something here, since there were a lot of people upset about it being denied...

It might be because you can get free SMS via google voice. I'd imagine cell companies would hate this, considering how much money they make on it.

http://web500.us/how-to-use-google-v...eive-free-sms/

[mykalberta]

They should have never allowed this without charging google everytime its used on their network.

AT&T is now just becoming a data provider and nothing else.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

They should have never allowed this without charging google everytime its used on their network.

AT&T is now just becoming a data provider and nothing else.

Well, yeah. And the telephone companies are trying to fight this tooth and nail. But really, all they truly have is a commodity. This is what happens when companies can't add value and instead piss off their customers.

[mykalberta]

Its very simple though - AT&T should have said no.