Net2Phone local distributorsthreatened with legal suit Blocking of Internet related telephonecalls reported to be 'sporadic'
Cayman Net News learned from some usersTuesday, 1 August that their Voice Over Internet Phone (VOIP)service has been restored ... albeit sporadically. Efforts tofind out from Cable & Wireless if they have discontinued theirdecision to block these calls ... or the overseas providers havefound methods to go around them (C & W) ... have been unsuccessful.
It has also been revealed that other services - such as DialPad,PhoneFree, FreeAtLast, Microsoft Net Meeting, EasyVoice and otherInternet Chat sites have not been affected.
Information has also come to hand that the local distributorsof the Y@PBox, which is used in connection with the Internet serviceprovided by C & W has received notice from the law firm representingthem, that by "making this device (the Y@PBox) availablein the Cayman Islands (they) are facilitating a breach by (their)customers of their contracts with Cable & Wireless."
Besides the local distributors identified by the law firm, thereare other companies now selling the product. It is understoodthat several hundred have been brought in by residents who havebought the product from stores in the USA and over the Internet,for local delivery by Courier services. Presently, there is nolegislation or customs regulation in place which excludes entryof these devices. As a matter of fact, it is known that the technologyand software required for many of these type of VOIP services,can be downloaded to any computer.
One of the distributors of the devices in question, has confirmedthat many of the larger corporations who are able to pay anywherefrom $2,000 to $10,000 per month for direct access Internet lineshave transferred their overseas telephone calling to the VOIPtechnology. "It is the smaller businessman, families andprivate residents who are targeted to be denied the use of thisservice which will greatly cut down on their overseas telephonebills" said one of the affected distributors.
One user of the Y@PBox system, claims that it costs her and herfamily -- who have a lot of relatives to keep in touch with inMiami -- only one cent per minute. She wonders: "So whatare they going to do with those of us who are in possession ofboxes that are already here?"
Whatever the outcome of this round of disenchantment with Cable& Wireless will no doubt be fodder among the many pressingissues to be addressed by the candidates and the new Governmentto take office come the 8th of November.