AT&T and Google are currently engaged in an ongoing dispute about the rejection of the Google Voice iPhone application. Last Friday, AT&T pushed the spat further by filing documents with the FCC saying that Google Voice violates government Internet policies.

You may know AT&T as the exclusive carrier for something called the Apple iPhone. The iPhone has become increasingly popular with consumers because of the amount of applications available. Consumers can download and install everything from games, restaurant locators, ebook readers, light sabers, and more. Apple reviews all submitted applications, and if approved, places them in their iTunes App Store for download.

Google submitted an application called Google Voice, which allows consumers to make and receive calls. Consumers using the service receive a new phone number which forwards all calls to any other phone they desire. The interface looks almost identical to the iPhone's own built in interface, right down to the order of the icons and the visual voicemail. As discussed in a previous blog on UCAN.org, Apple claims they have not rejected the application, and merely are keeping it in a holding pattern. Speculation abounds that AT&T is behind Apple's decision making and doesn't want this application approved.

The FCC launched an investigation into why Google Voice was denied.

Now, in its recent filings, AT&T is claiming Google routinely blocks calls to certain rural areas. It is more expensive to connect to the local exchange carrier network in rural areas. Therefore, Google is able to save costs by restricting these higher priced calls. However, common carriers, such as AT&T, are prohibited from doing this. In 2007, the FCC ruled that common carriers are prohibited from engaging in these types of call blocking activities. Google is claiming it is not a traditional phone service, and therefore the common carrier rule does not apply. Google even admitted in its blog that it may restrict certain outbound calls, but firmly stands on the ground that they are exempt from this prohibition.

Put simply, Google found a loophole that gives it a competitive advantage and AT&T is not happy about it.

AT&T wants the FCC to treat Google similar to every other telecommunications carrier. AT&T is also claiming that Google Voice violates net neutrality because sign-ups are limited and not open to all consumers. However, many critics are stating that this is just a red herring attempting to distract the public and undermine web based competition.

Is it tit for tat, or is Google or AT&T in the right?

Think of it as one stop shopping for your major IM connections. If you a very connected person and are looking for a way to consolidate all your messaging methods, Nimbuzz wants to help.

It's TMI, folks. Modernspeak for Too Much Information. Usually that means "more than I care to know about what you and your cousin did after too much champaign at the wedding". In this case it means that there are so many ways of staying in touch via The Web that it's burdensome to keep all those apps running in all the places you compute. You've got your Skype program open, you've got Google Mail or iGoogle with its GoogleTalk Chat and Voice/Video calling, you've got Yahoo Instant Messenger and/or
AIM
ICQ
Jabber
Windows LIVE (MSN)
Gadu Gadu

It would be nice if everyone used the same system but they don't. Plus you've got Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. What's a communigeek to DO?

A Dutch company called Nimbuzz (I hate the name, which is a modification of Nimbus) offers a product based around a calling system, somewhat like Skype. You install the free Mobile application on your cell phone, or you install the app on your Mac or PC, or you log into their web interface. You can even install their "widget" on your own personal or business web site so people can Nimbuzz YOU without knowing your ICQ, Skype, etc, account name. As with Skype, you can call Nimbuzz-to-Nimbuzz for free or you can call off-net for a pretty cheap rate. I tested the in-net calling from the program on my cellphone to my cousin Harry in Bogota using the web interface. It sounded very good.

But what I think is more interesting is the concept of having all these diverse communications systems terminate in one place. I don't think Nimbuzz treats any of them as well as their native interfaces do but, for the benfit of having just one program to run, it's a fair tradeoff. In most cases you get to see the statuses of all these people across different cimmunications platforms in one simple window.

Not Ready For Prime Time
The program isn't solid yet. Many things don't work right including their own support and corporate PR. I wrote them about some oddities, truly thinking they were "ID-10t" errors (remove the hyphen and look again...) on August 27 and I heard back from support on Sept 23 and I still haven't heard back from the Communcations person directly regarding this blog entry. So I can only tell you what I see and if they provide more info, I'll update this article.

Skype seems to integrate pretty well. However, it only works on the Mobile version. They claim it's for technical reasons - I wonder if it's political since Skype's parent company IS an investor in this product. Still, having a simple Skype "client" (a "client" is a program that talks to a "server" elsewhere) on your web or WiFi-enabled cell phone is pretty cool. One Skype call I made that did not go through, also locked up the entire phone and I had to reboot. There's no video capability but that would be a big order for a cell phone.

Another voice and video service, Google Talk, didn't fare so well. Chat worked fine and the Nimbuzz client could see if I was Away or Available (but would not recognize that I had logged out unless I quit then restarted Nimbuzz). But, using the mobile app, I was never able to call to or from my PC or Mac running Google Talk (in the iGoogle or Gmail interfaces); the closest I got was that the PC would ring but when I answered it, the mobile client kept ringing as if it had never been answered. I was able to call Mac to PC so I know they were running Google Talk OK.

Another very strange thing is that my (few) Google Talk contacts both show up twice. Art at UCAN shows up twice and so does my test account. What's more, one of each does not show the (useless) CALL choice while the other one does. WTF?

One point of confusion for my age-addled brane is the fact that each type of Nimbuzz interface can get different mixes of feeds. Mainly, only the mobile can get Skype and only the mobile and desktop versions can make SIP calls. It would be nice if they all did the same things in different places.

Many Types of Typing
I connected Nimbuzz to my Facebook and Yahoo IM accounts and, in a short time, it had retrieved all my YM contacts and their pictures. Facebook worked OK initially but, once I enabled it on the web client, all I had was a list of account numbers which is useless. If I disabled Facebook on the web client, then the Mac client loads the FB names properly. I think it's also supposed to show your contacts' pictures. I see a few from Skype but no others. Of course, you can also IM via Skype and Google.

Nimbuzz has Twitter connectivity of limited usefulness. At the top of the Nimbuzz client or web UI there's a field where you can type a greeting or status. If you check the right setting, whatever you type here becomes a Twit. But since this text also appears in others' Nimbuzz clients and to Google Talk contacts, you might want to change it from time to time and NOT have the change be Twat. (Past imperfect subjunctive of "to Twit"). Also, you can't GET Twits in Nimbuzz which I think would be just fine because, since I'd have the mobile client running ANYWAY, I could get Twits without paying SMS fees.

Take Your Office On The Road
Another thing that Nimbuzz duzz is to connect to a variety of commercial (i.e. para dinero) VoIP services like Siggate - most of the "recommended partners" seem to be European but it would probably work with Vonage, e.g., as well. But what I found really useful, and here's the TELECOM tie-in (finally), was to log this SIP client into UCAN's SwitchVox SIP phone system. I just gave the proper IP address, SIP account name and password, and now I have x657 right on my cell phone. This means that with EVDO or other cellular broadband, I can get my UCAN calls anyplace there's service and UCAN doesn't have to pay for the calls and I don't have to pay for the minutes. If you don't have broadband you probably wouldn't be using Nimbuzz anyway though you could use it at a WiFi hotspot.

On my phone, and probably on most, you could not use the mic and speaker that you use for cell calls. You'd need a headset like you'd use for Skype calls. I tested using the built-in speakerphone and it was fine for me but UCAN's ever-patient Laura got a lot of echo when testing. That would not have happened with a headset.

This last item can be very powerful for people with SIP-enabled phone systems and I earnestly solicit comments from people who've tried it.

If you try Nimbuzz. check back here and tell your story.

When "I Hear You Knocking" was written in 1955 discussion of a password for your phone system would have got you sent to the looney bin. Or branded a Commie. As you'll see in a future post, business phones back then consisted of a instrument, maybe some buttons to pick more than one line, and an operator (or secretary) who took messages for you. Today, any business phone system has voicemail. Most of them let you access your messages remotely by dialing in and entering your extension and a password.

Since the mid-1990's more and more business phone systems have been designed as computer based vs monolithic (like your old Merlin or TIE system). This trend to Computer Telephony has resulted in smart phone systems like TeleVantage, Asterisk, SwitchVox, Fonality, AllWorx, Zultys, PBXact, and ShoreTel, and, more recently, similar products from the Legacy Players, that can make routing decisions for your calls based on user-defined criteria. The power that comes with this can, like any power, be used for good or for evil (see "Captain Call Control" Issue 1 "Revenge of the Voicemail Zombies"). Some nefarious individuals know this and, when they're not writing malware or convincing you to buy "this luxurious used Yugo, owned by one old lady", they are looking for ways to get in.

It Happened To Dr. Telecom
My business phone system is Vertical TeleVantage. I started noticing a lot of calls from the same area code 209 phone number that would just hang up. At first I thought it was telemarketers. Then I looked at the log. Yes, one of the nice things about a CTI (aka Computer Telephony Integration or Smart-PBX) system is that it keeps a log of all calls and you can manipulate it in Excel. I found that these calls, and those from 3 other numbers, were dialing the code to log in to my account.It’s fairly easy for a hacker to identify a TeleVantage or other CTI phone system because of the out-of-box default method of logging in from a phone. For example, if you were blind, you could probably tell you were eating at PickUp Stix as opposed to another restaurant because if you asked for “Stix House Salad” you’d get food. At any other restaurant, you’d get nothing.

Some hackers have computers that spend their lives, 24/7 dialing around in numerical sequence, just like the people who dial around probing for fax machines so they can add you to their junk fax lists. Bastards! Once the hacking computer stumbles upon a voice, it dials the TeleVantage-typical tone sequence. If it gets the expected response, it knows it's "at Pickup Stix" and it goes to Stage 2 and starts looking for valid extensions (and wonton soup). ZERO, i.e. Operator, is a good place to start. Once found, it goes to Stage 3 and tries passwords. Once it stumbles upon one that works (probably because it was the factory default or the extension or 1111) it's logged in so it tells that extension to forward all calls to the hacker’s friend’s house in Timbuktu. The hacker hangs up and calls back, dials the extension he’s already forwarded, and gets connected to his friend and talks for hours– on your dime.

Passwords and VoiceMail
It's simple. If you just have voice mail and you leave your password as the factory default or change it to your extension or 1111, a nasty person can find your account and listen to, even delete, your voicemail. If you value your privacy, and maybe even company secrets, use a decent password. You could be held responsible by your employer if a mailbox in your charge was accessed and important information was leaked.

Smart Phone Systems
As I've shown, if compromised, a hacker can use your phone system to make long distance calls and you'll get billed for them. If you aren't paying attention, this can go on for a long time. Example: if someone leaves the company, had a weak password, and nobody disabled their account on the phone system, a hacker finding their account could do this for weeks - until you peruse your next phone bill and hit the floor in a coma. YOU DO REVIEW YOUR LONG DISTANCE BILLS, DON'T YOU?

This happened to a customer of mine. We contacted the San Diego CATCH Team who were so overloaded that they said they couldn't handle the case unless the damage was over $5,000. We even had the CallerID. The customer worked out something with the long distance carrier but still had to pay a lot of money.

Some Smart PBXs have a security check option. The system will look thru all passwords and report on which are not strong. And, like most servers, the admin can set a minimum password length so that users can't get lazy and use "11" as their password.

If you don't know how to reset your password from the default, see your system administrator, the product manual, or call the manufacturer's tech support. 

UPDATE: Sept. 11, 2009 - T-mobile has withdrawn the $1.50 billing charge.  (if you have found otherwise please call us at 619-696-6966)

Throughout August T-Mobile has been sending notices to its customers that it will start charging $1.50 per month to send you your paper bill. When did sending a customer a bill become something that was not included in the plan?

This is for all paper bills, the "detailed bill" and the "summary bill", which means if you are receiving the "detailed bill" you will soon be paying $3.49 per month to receive it in the mail.

In my book if a company cannot afford to mail you your bill then it should just stop charging you for service, problem solve.

Realistically, though T-Mobile will continue to charge you for service so what are your options besides paying an extra $1.50 a month.

Option 1: Access your bill online. Some people prefer this option; many individuals were already receiving their bills online. It appears that if you receive your bill online you can still use all of the same payment methods including mailing in a check.

Option 2: Try to cancel your T-Mobile contract without an ETF. You should have 30 days from the date you receive the notice to cancel your contract without being charged an ETF. This charge should be considered materially adverse to you or at least an increase in your set monthly charges.

When you call be sure to mention your right to cancel under the terms and conditions. The relevant section states:

5. Our Rights to Make Changes. Your Service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN CHANGE PRICES, CHARGES AND ANY TERMS IN THE AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME. IF WE MATERIALLY MODIFY THESE T&Cs IN A WAY THAT IS MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU, OR IF A CHANGE INCREASES YOUR SET MONTHLY RECURRING CHARGE(S) (the set amount - which does not include overage, features, optional services, taxes and fees - you agreed to pay each month for at least a one-year Term), WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AT LEAST 30 DAYS NOTICE AND YOU MAY TERMINATE YOUR SERVICE WITHOUT AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY) BY NOTIFYING US WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE NOTICE. IF YOU FAIL TO TERMINATE WITHIN THOSE 30 DAYS, YOU ACCEPT THE CHANGES.
http://www.t-mobile.com/Templates/Popup.aspx?WT.z_unav=ftr__TC&PAsset=Ft...

If you have any trouble cancelling and feel you are within your 30 days let us know by submitting an online complaint or calling the fraud squad.

Companies always seem to be looking for a new way to charge you. To quote Tom Petty "As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs want to see how much you'll pay for what you use to get for free" 

But remember you are under a contract and you have rights under that contract and when a change is made you should have a right to at least leave that contract without charge. Also you should make T-Mobile aware that you are dissatisfied with this charge even if you intend to pay the charge to continue receiving the paper bill. Customer satisfaction should be important to them and T-Mobile needs to know when its customers are not satisfied. 

Lyric quote: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; "The Last DJ"; Album: The Last DJ Label: Warner Bros. 2002