India Considering Banning Google Hangout, Skype, Gtalk and Other Services

[vijayninel]

Minister of State for Communication and IT Killi Kruparani (in flower garlands) leads India into the 21st century

The Indian Government will re-examine the legality of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services offered by global Internet companies such as Microsoft Skype and Google hangout, Google Talk and other similar services Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Killi Kruparani said on Monday.

Kruparani was in Hyderabad at an event to launch video calling the services for the South and Eastern zones of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. The BSNL (AP) Chief General Manager V Srinivasan, said that services such as Google Hangout (which offers a free video-conferencing facility), the video calling services being offered by companies such as Skype were illegal and unlawful. “What we are offering is a legal service,” he said.

The new video conferencing service launched by BSNL is expensive and has limited coverage. While a video conferencing call using the BSNL service costs "just" Rs 2.50 per minute you also need to buy special phones to operate the service. These special phones start from a price range of Rs 14,900 and while a more expensive option costs Rs 24,000. However services such as Skype, Gtalk etc do not need any such special, expensive equipment. One can use existing devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones to avail these services.

While Indian telecom companies and Internet service providers will have to pay a revenue share for offering voice over Internet, global players such as Skype are offering the service without paying anything to the Government. The governments position seems to be that citizens should not get anything untaxed or free from government control.

There was no immediate response from Google, Microsoft or other companies offering free videoconferencing services in India.

Sources : Business Line : Industry & Economy / Info-tech : As debate over Net telephony rages, Govt to re-examine services offered by Skype, Google
BSNL launches video telephony in South - The New Indian Express

[manu1991]

Absolutely. They should also ban google unless it pays a per search commission to the government.

[thebanik]

Originally Posted by manu1991 Absolutely. They should also ban google unless it pays a per search commission to the government.

I guess there is no question of paying commission, simply ban google/bing and such SE's. It only mud-slings our Government by wrongfully showing corruption, also it increases citizens knowledge (which can be dangerous if not curbed), it also corrupts young minds by knowing Global News and Culture which is the root of all the evil and ill in our society.

[ChironX]

India and China should stop fighting and form a joined country themselves - People's Republic of Indo-China.

Shameful, really. This is what happens when people who are absolute noobs in technology go sit on the tech ministry. But from the recent incidents all over the world (including India), Governments are showing that they care less about the mass population. India is following the same path, which does not astonish me.

Everyday I look at the V for Vendetta poster, and the world Alan Moore had drawn quite some time back slowly starts forming in front of me. We are going towards that direction only - no freedom of speech, no freedom of expression, no freedom of choice.

/Sigh /Rant

[NinjaAssassin]

This is just ridiculous

[ManISinJpr ♦]

I think this is just a USELESS statement by a USELESS leader who does not know what she is talking about. and it will pass..

But I am aghast that tere are such people in the GOVT, you all know why??
Coz the citizens of the country vote for them !

Blasted politics and useless persons thinking they are the rulers of us, when infact they are just PUBLIC servants !!

Yes you are right dude, noobs are there and will be there coz the ultimate vote is for the caste and creed !! and that is the worst thing in the world !

Originally Posted by ChironX Shameful, really. This is what happens when people who are absolute noobs in technology go sit on the tech ministry. But from the recent incidents all over the world (including India), Governments are showing that they care less about the mass population. India is following the same path, which does not astonish me.

[ChironX]

Originally Posted by ManISinJpr ♦ Coz the citizens of the country vote for them !

Manishda,

You've hit the nail there with that. No matter how much we protest here in online forums etc., end of the day we go line in the election booths and vote for these idiots. No wonder they have started taking us for granted. We are suffering, yes, but we are the architects of our own downfall.

I still believe that there's a way of redemption out of this. But everyday that little statue of hope slowly disintegrates.

[kenprakash]

These people will make us leave India

[KTD]

INDIA - "It Never Develops In Anything" . Thinking of leaving this stupid country . I dont blame the politians , we ourselves need to be blamed for all this .
I don't when will these stupid morons wake up .

[kenprakash]

@KTD true that ! It is we people who are at fault. India as a country is great, but as a nation , sadly it is very bad .

[bean_laden]

Originally Posted by KTD INDIA - "It Never Develops In Anything" . Thinking of leaving this stupid country . I dont blame the politians , we ourselves need to be blamed for all this . I don't when will these stupid morons wake up .

you are safe from police, since you didnt taunt the politicians, you are probably safe.

[herecomesmaggi]

These are under developed preamble age minds, dont let them use it. i would consider to rip it off and preserve them.... suckers

---------- Post added at 01:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 AM ----------

Originally Posted by ChironX end of the day we go line in the election booths and vote for these idiots.

there aint anyone other than these idiots.. !!!

[Arjs]

Govt. of India finds another way to make money. Village people are appointed as IT ministers. They don't know what IT is, all they know is that this is a business. chapo note chapo

[kartikoli]

bullshit .... soiled my morning for tech news update

P.S. my bro left for UAE yesterday and i am back on skype ... let me get a topup done before they ban gtalk,skype (10rs/min)

[The Knight]

This is totally ridiculous..