A couple of posts on Skype worth reading at Skypejournal. One on UAE allegedly blocking the Skype website which the author supposes is either to prevent bypass of the PSTN rates or because calls are encrypted making them harder to tap. UAE is one of the more progressive countries in the region in terms of telecom policies and Dubai is trying to become a high tech hub. So if they are doing it, for whatever reason, it doesn't really make sense in terms of their overall ICT and economic strategy for the country. Makes you wonder what happens in those countries which have a more centralised system through which all traffic must pass. One of the people commenting at Skypejournal suggests users in the UAE try the EFF's TOR but that is probably blocked as well. Easier for expats to get a friend or relative to top up their account if that is the only barrier. Paradoxically, Skpejournal also covers Andrew Ferguson's blogging of his suggested POTS denial of service scheme for annoying Spammers. A very funny post by Andrew and even funny recording of his call to a spammer. But as Skypejournal points out there is too much potential for misuse here in relation to the PSTN. How long before governments other than UAE not kindly disposed towards VoIP competition (or PSTN tapping bypass) start pointing to legitimate public policy concerns. Time for Skype to hire some government relations types and send them to the WGIG meetings and the other international forums where governments discuss these issues.

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