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Torn About VOIP Ruling

May 13, 2005 › Sandy McMurray | comment

I have to say I'm torn over the CRTC's decision to regulate Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). What's VOIP? It's basically phone calls on the Internet. Instead of calls being sent through phone company networks, VOIP calls are diced into digital packets which are sent from computer to computer via the same pipes that send you your Web pages.
I am an early VOIP adopter, and have used a Primus VOIP service for my business for over a year now. Although I work out of Hamilton, Ontario, I have a 416 area code assigned to my Primus phone. That means Toronto clients can call me locally, and, when I call Toronto, I don't pay long distance rates. Genius. That's one kind of VOIP. There's more.

No Fossils
Skype is another. Skype provides VOIP by allowing two computer users running the free Skype software to carry on free conversations. Free long distance conversations. Free long distance conference calls. You see the attraction.
VOIP really is the new phone company. Which is why Bell et al in Canada are so miffed at the CRTC for not allowing them to eat all the VOIP pie themselves. Think of all the cool services Bell and the rest of the entrenched old boys could offer, and charge inflated rates for.
It's also why the cable companies are so pleased. They're not exactly consumer friendly either, but they want to make sure that their investment in cable infrastructure for high speed Internet access can pay some VOIP dividends. If the CRTC decision had gone the other way, I wouldn't have shed any tears for them. Or, if I were inclined to, I'd just give Cogeco's customer service line a call and clear my head as I waited on endless hold.
But, the reason I'm pleased about the CRTC decision is this. Bell and the cable companies haven't been particularly innovative with Internet services, but companies like Skype have. If the CRTC decision gives upstarts like Skype an edge, I'm all for it. VOIP belongs to newcomers, not fossils.

May 13, 2005 › Sandy McMurray | comment on this item