Hosted VoIP

Just as Google (News - Alert) executives are reportedly in talks with the Chinese government regarding censorship and the search giant’s future in that country, Skype (News - Alert) executives are reportedly in talks with government officials in the UAE regarding the VoIP service provider’s future in that country as well.

The UAE's telecommunications regulator generally prohibits the use of VoIP in order to protect revenue from international calls for the country's two major operators -- although some users get away with using it illegally. Reports on TMCnet today give indication that the TRA may soon be passing legislation officially allowing the use of VoIP in the UAE.

In a report in the Wall Street Journal, Skype CEO Josh Silverman called the UAE’s current block on the VoIP service 'short-sighted' – especially for a country built as a trade and immigration hub. He pointed out that access to Skype would facilitate trade and connect the nation's majority immigrant population with their families.

'When a government acts to protect a legacy of a profit pool, it's usually not in the interest of the economy or the people,' he reportedly said during the Abu Dhabi Media Summit in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Silverman added, however, that his company is open to discussions with the government. He said Skype is in regular contact with governments around the Gulf on allowing access to the software.

 

Skype is officially banned in North Korea and access to its Web site is blocked in a handful of countries, including the UAE.

Skype made news last week when it announced that it had hired Adrian T. Dillon as its new chief financial and administration officer. Dillon replaces Laura Shesgreen, who will remain at Skype as vice president of finance.

Dillon has more than 30 years of finance experience. He will join Skype in early April and will be based at the company’s headquarters in Luxembourg.