EU wants VoIP over 3G networks

With the release of Skype on the iPhone, and soon the BlackBerry, Americans have seen the first light of VoIP over on cell phones. Currently, all VoIP is limited to only Wi-Fi networks for cell phones. The same is true in Europe, where VoIP has been on cell phones for quite some time now.As with a lot of technology services that could remotely be a bad thing for consumers, the European Union is looking into the matter.

The issue for the EU is that VoIP is blocked on the 3G networks from cell carriers. Simply put, cell networks blocking VoIP from 3G networks can be seen by many as anticompetitive. By blocking the services, the networks are not being fair to consumers who might want the choice. The idea is just a proposal at the moment, but given the EU’s history of tech antitrust crusades, it may see the light of day eventually.

Here, in the US, we’re a bit behind in our cell phones and with the services offered. The EU action could lead the way to regulatory bodies in the US to look into the issue. Perhaps it could be one step closer to convincing the cell networks that all we really need them for is to provide the network and nothing else. Letting users use the network how they want is just an obvious idea, but one that no cell network or ISP in the US seems to understand. Hopefully the EU can succeed in their crusade against blocking VoIP on 3G networks, even if the decision will probably not come until 4G networks are rolled out. Maybe it will convince some network in the US to change their tune. Or maybe it’ll be just one more reason why cell networks in Europe are better than the ones in the US.

Read [Gizmodo]