---
author: "Eric Priezkalns"
published: "2007-05-06T18:10:04+00:00"
modified: "2015-02-17T17:38:13+00:00"
title: "Blocking VoIP on Mobile"
permalink: "https://commsrisk.com/blocking-voip-on-mobile/"
---

# Blocking VoIP on Mobile

Is blocking VoIP over mobile a feasible business strategy? On the one hand, VoIP threatens to undermine the voice revenues of mobile networks, and they have legitimate business reasons to protect their investment. Hence why [Vodafone blocks VoIP](http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/05/01/vodafone.voip.lawsuit/). On the other hand, there are plenty of businesses that would gain from opening up networks to VoIP, which is why [Skype will use any pro-competition statute to try to force liberalisation](http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/03/21/skype.coming.to.cellphones/). But the issue really comes down to whether customers care enough to want VoIP, and are willing to change to a network that supports services like Skype. Some will, some won’t. But assuming people who start to use VoIP never want to go back to a service without it, consumer pressure will eventually force networks to open up to be competitive. The only judgment call is the tipping point: when blocking VoIP to increase revenues is worth less than the loss of customers to rival networks.