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VoIP is not illegal in Qatar

tallg's picture

I know someone posted this in a couple of other threads but I think it's worth reiterating as there has been much confusion over the legality of using Skype and other VoIP applications.

This announcement from ictQATAR clarifies that it is perfectly legal for individuals or businesses to use VoIP; http://www.ict.gov.q...

Extract:

In summary, the position on VoIP is:

1. Any person or business within the State of Qatar may use VoIP services for voice calls for their own use; and

2. No person or business within the State of Qatar may sell VoIP calls or services to the public or businesses without a license issued by ictQATAR. The only two companies currently licensed for that purpose are QTel and Vodafone.

ictQATAR is committed to encouraging the availability of the latest technology to Qatari citizens and residents.


Comments

dweller's picture

dweller said Sounds like ...

good news for those in Qatar.
Much cheaper than using an ordinary phone.

 

jackmohan2007's picture

jackmohan2007 said Tallg..thats an oxymoron! ...

Tallg..thats an oxymoron!

How can you use VOIP without buying the service. You have to buy it first ...be it Skype, Familyvoiz, JustVoip, etc.

Since Nither Q-Tel nor Vodafone sells prepaid VOIP cards one cannot not use PC to Phone VOIP calls.

I guess what they mean is PC-PC voice over IP is ok!

 

tallg's picture

tallg said No, I think you've ...

No, I think you've misunderstood it jackmohan. I buy Skype credit from Skype. Skype are not a business within the State of Qatar.

This announcement is clearly saying that it's ok to use skype, to either phones or pcs.

 

sendwishes's picture

sendwishes said I think Jackmohan is ...

I think Jackmohan is correct. As skype or anyother VOIP service provider is not licensed in the STATE of QATAR, so as per point number 2 of ictQATAR VOIP policy,

"purchase of any VOIP service in the STATE of QATAR (again in the STATE of QATAR) is illegal".

Looking for more comments.

 

jackmohan2007's picture

jackmohan2007 said This is quite silly... ...

This is quite silly...

Mr "A" can email his friends back home to feed his VOIP with prepaid and can use the service in Qatar!!!

Note Mr "A" did not buy "talktime" in Qatar either through cash or through Credit Card!

This is really pethetic of Q-TEL.

 

dweller's picture

dweller said Read it! ...

You can use it but not sell it.
You cannot sell calls to your friends!

 

TweetyBird's picture

TweetyBird said Dweller is right. This ...

Dweller is right. This issue is about you the user turning around and selling the service to someone else. Example - you have SKYPE on your computer with a SkYPE phone and you charge individuals who may not have a computer and SKYPE phone 30 riyal to use your service and phone.

 

serampang13's picture

serampang13 said tallg you are wonderful ...

I have planned to stop using S****e until I read yours,
My confidence now grows up to 75%.

 

tallg's picture

tallg said Gulf Times article; ...

Gulf Times article; http://www.gulf-time...

 

CoolDohaman's picture

CoolDohaman said You can use Yahoo!..... ...

You can use Yahoo!voice mail also. Only you need to down load messenger and there is an option of "phone out". You can recharge through Yahoo!Voice by creating a account.

 

tallg's picture

tallg said There are many VoIP software ...

There are many VoIP software programs you can use, Skype and Yahoo being two of them.

 

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