A developing story from /SAbackchan. For full discussion and information, click on through to the post.

Is Google Really In Trouble with the FCC and Skype?
(http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-08-20-google-internet-calls-apple_N.htm)

John sent me this post from the USA Today – it’s all about everyone’s favorite kerfluffle with the whole Apple / AT&T v. Google over the Voice App.

Here’s the parts that got to me — my comments at the end:

“But Google (GOOG) may soon find itself on the hot seat as well, telecom and public policy analysts say.”

“Consumers who use Android, the Google-developed operating system for wireless devices, can’t use Skype, a leading Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. A pioneer in free Internet calling, Skype allows you to talk as long as you want without draining cellphone minutes. Android users get Skype Lite, a watered-down version of the original that routes calls over traditional phone networks — not the Internet. As a result, long-distance calls are still cheap or free, but cellphone minutes are gobbled up every time a Skype Lite call is made.”

—

Here are my questions (particularly since I know there are people in our network both on the Android team as well as the Skype team…):

1) How limited on the G1 is Skype, really?
2) Android developers – how come VoIP won’t work on the G1 / Android platform?
3) … in general, how is this an FCC issue? Wouldn’t this be more of an FTC or AG antitrust / anti-competitiveness issue? How does the FCC play into it?

#1 & #2 would be nice to know, but #3 is what’s really plauging my mind. My instincts are generally right on these legal things, despite the fact that I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t want to go off half cocked if I’m missing something obvious…

Glenn Manishin? Nate? John? Any insight?

Post from: /backchan

Is Google Really In Trouble with the FCC…