New to Skype, VOIP, etc

[jvalh]

Any possibility of a discussion here? I could find no place that focuses
on wired, wireless, etc. mobile phones.

Consumer Reports has a great comparison of mobile phones but they
probably do not use Skype - yes, or no?

I am particularly interested in Skype because of the much lower calling
costs.

TIA

[Joe AutoDrill]

"jvalh" <jv...@bubble.net> wrote in message
news:8t6pvd...@mid.individual.net...

I don't want to go off on a rant about something that isn't really related
to the Skype question. However, every Skype user (or similar service for
that matter) should know what's in the pipeline before relying on the
service to heavily. ...This is especially true if you use it for charity or
business like I do.

Skype, is essentially a great service but is also being threatened by new
regulations. The government is pushing legislation that would ban online
communications technologies like these unless their developers make it easy
for the government to
wiretap them.

The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) requires
telecom companies to make it possible for the government wiretap their
networks. Now law enforcement wants to expand CALEA to cover all online
communications technologies, including peer-to-peer and social networking
apps.

The New York Times says the law would even include making sure the
government could intercept and unscramble encrypted messages. Not sure how
much you trust the NYT of course...

An expansion of CALEA would be a tremendous blow to Skype and of course our
privacy - not to even get into the issue of a free and open Internet. The
government has gone from investigating crimes to throwing huge fish nets on
the population and inspecting the fish at their leisure to see if they can
prosecute us for whatever they think we are doing. Using Skype and any of
the "work arounds" that people will undoubtedly develop could essentially
make you a good catch. Just be careful how heavily you rely on the service
and of course keep your motivation and usage pure - whatever that means to
you.

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
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V8013-R

[jvalh]

Thanks Joe.

It seems like I have to do a lot more studying.