Skype On iPhone Gets Thumbs Up From AT&T

If you’ve been waiting for a chance to use Skype on your iPhone over AT&T’s network to save on international calls or supplement your calling plan’s minutes, your day has come. After a little nudge from the FCC, the company has reversed its ban on VOIP apps on its data network, and will now let you Skype away until you run out of people to call or things to say.

AT&T wireless head Ralph de la Vega issued a statement declaring that the shift was a response to customer demand:

IPhone is an innovative device that dramatically changed the game in wireless when it was introduced just two years ago. Today’s decision was made after evaluating our customers’ expectations and use of the device compared to dozens of others we offer.

Of course, a little prodding from the FCC probably didn’t hurt. The decision to allow VOIP apps won’t directly affect Google Voice, though the FCC is also looking into Apple’s long-running “evaluation” of the service.

AT&T Reverses Policy on iPhone Internet Calls [NYTimes.com]

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