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I've given this a post in this section as I figure more people will read it in the 'general' area.

Tell Etisalat what you really think of them here:

www.petitiononline.com/uaevoip/

well done chocs - bring back my skype

Although my IT dude says its not banned in internet city but I have not been able to log on ...

Cargirl wrote:well done chocs - bring back my skype

Although my IT dude says its not banned in internet city but I have not been able to log on ...

It seems to be banned here, or just working very badly.

The problem is Etisalat plan to launch their own VoIP service later this year, and Du is also going to be pushing VoIP services next year. Now, they don't want any nasty competition for these services if they're going to offer their own do they?

Nice one Chocs

Yes but Etisalat and DU will probably again charge silly prices for them! Sign up! Some of the comments are great!

Chocoholic wrote:Yes but Etisalat and DU will probably again charge silly prices for them! Sign up! Some of the comments are great!

Yeah I liked the bit on the petition about being able to "Reach"

I think essentially Etilsalat needs to be shamed into opening it back up, and I think this can only be achieved through the media.

Otherwise they're just going to block the online petition site.

Perhaps 7 Days can do a big song and dance about it?

They've really kicked themselves in the butt with that one! What a joke.

Chocoholic wrote:They've really kicked themselves in the butt with that one! What a joke.

Interestingly Sprint and AT&T in the USA have discussed banning VoIP traffic, and Telstra in Australia is also strongly considering it.

It seems that the interweb is now doing to Telcos what it did to the music and motion picture industries.

But what's the point of having technology if you can't use it? People will always want cheaper options.

I also put in a complaint with my country counselate. As skype offers an alternative means of communication other than landlines and mobile lines in case of emergency the government (foreign) should protect its citizens while in the UAE (by assisting them in having this mean of communication which is not always free). I hope they "lean" on Etisalat..

You could do the same (anything that is legal and "works").

Way to go, and thank you for providing this to all of us!

I have Vonage from the states (or had) and I am pissed!!! If these morans would at least offer their service and have it available, I would pay. They are really chicken sh*t for not offering that service before they go in a block ports!

ok guys he is the Deal.
VOIP make Telecom companies lose tons of money cuz u r paying a lower rate for the same quality. And if the all can ban it they will.
Du will be just another version of Etisalat just owned by Dubai Gov.
They will have the same price list and will have the same redlines.
Bottom line it will be the same thing just a different name

I find that if you have Skype already installed on your PC, then it works but you cannot access the Skype site to upgrade. After a number of uses, however, Eti-sucks-a-lot then block your individual IP address from using it.

Answer: Either plug your PC into a different port socket or, better still if you are using a laptop, take it to an internet cafe, log on through their wifi network and when you log into Skype, it works.

When you get back to your old familiar location, the Skype will continue to work until they see the amount of usage again...and block you again...

It really sucks!




Knight

I'm person #249 to sign, thanks for sharing the link and I hope alot more sign.

fayz wrote:I'm person #249 to sign, thanks for sharing the link and I hope alot more sign.

good because when I signed I was around 100 (just 5 hrs early).

^ian^ wrote:The problem is Etisalat plan to launch their own VoIP service later this year, and Du is also going to be pushing VoIP services next year. Now, they don't want any nasty competition for these services if they're going to offer their own do they?

How can they possibly launch VOIP? It's illegal to use VOIP here according to TRA regulations. At least, that's what Etisalat always bleats when the finger is pointed at them.

Or... the TRA will change the rules and allow VoIP which means Etisalat can't legally block those services anymore.

Etisalat are just greedy whichever way you look at it.

Concord wrote:I also put in a complaint with my country counselate. As skype offers an alternative means of communication other than landlines and mobile lines in case of emergency the government (foreign) should protect its citizens while in the UAE (by assisting them in having this mean of communication which is not always free). I hope they "lean" on Etisalat..

You could do the same (anything that is legal and "works").

Excellent idea - and with a wide range of citizens from many countries on this forum, then we could reach a wide range of consulates and governments!

oh dave, you womanizer you!!!

Oi! Please don't hijack this thread! Getting fed up of people doing that!

ON TOPIC - check out the front page of 7 Days today.

sigh.... "national security"! How many people are using that excuse these days.....

Yeah it's a lame excuse! How come hundreds of other countries allow it then, and many with a higher security risk than here, it's pathetic.

Nice Liono avatar matey - Thunder, thunder, thudner cats! Now there's a blast from the past.

yeah - he's one of the greatest cartoon warriors

what is the difference between security over the phone using a second hand Wesel Card/sim and VOIP - they must think everyone in UAE is stupid.

More to the point what is this TRA crap. In UAE there are 2 providers, one part govt owned and the other using the same hardware.

So where does a TRA fit in?. It serves no purpose as currently, apart from Free zones, Etisrobalot has the monopoly, thus making a regulator totally pointless, there is nothing to regulate.

The ulilities "regulators" in the UK, exist only to serve and protect the public.

arniegang wrote:what is the difference between security over the phone using a second hand Wesel Card/sim and VOIP - they must think everyone in UAE is stupid.

Actually there is a big difference. The Telcos have control over the traffic when you are using a second hand wasel and can tap in to your phone conversation at anytime, heck can even locate you if they wanted. However with VOIP and specifically skype. The traffic is encrypted and there is no way they can listen in on your phone conversations. I guess this is why they are concerned about national security ... but i still think its a lame excuse

I would probably disagree in terms of the security issue Maaad. I read somewhere that Etisrobalot has registered over 3 million phones.

I accept that yes they can log into calls and get location, but the chance's of them listening to a phone that has been pre-registered to someone else, makes the odds into obscurity @ 3million to one.

I can buy a pre registered sim card that is advertised on these Forums and in souq.com and so can anyone else.

Also in the case of my UK phone when in DXB, they would only be able to monitor my call on the assumption they knew my number. This also applies to every phone user that does not use Etisrobalot as their provider.

In the UK we can buy sim Cards for equiv 30 Dhs on PAYG ( wesel) If security was an issue and i wanted to "play the game", theres nothing to stop any would be security risk to bring over a unlimited number of simcards.

guys check this post http://www.dubaiforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=9990