MiXBSD's Blog

Saw an interesting story on Wednesday in 24hrs, a free daily news rag in the GTA. It looks like one of the big Canadian ISP's is trying to bilk its customers into paying more for a high-priority internet service (what Shaw Communications calls "QoS Enhancement"). This is presumably done in a protection racket-type effort to provide a "reliable" connection for its customers who subscribe 3rd-party VoIP services. Naturally, there is a plug for Shaw's own VoIP service (called "Shaw Digital Phone") with a link at the end of the "QoS Enhancement" page.

Of course, Vonage's cries of "VoIP Tax!" aren't without merit, but this is old news. Primus has had the same ongoing problem since at least May 2005, according to this blog. However, it looks like Vonage is actually trying to do something about it, by complaining to the CRTC.

Shaw's rebuttal is less-than-convincing. It is laughable that Shaw should claim that "contrary to Vonage's claim, Shaw does not offer an Internet telephony service in direct competition with Vonage or any other Internet phone provider. Shaw's Digital Phone service is a carrier-grade, primary line, local and long distance residential telephone service that uses a managed IP network. Shaw Digital phone calls travel directly from Shaw's secure private network to the tried-and-true public telephone system. They do not travel over the Internet. The result is a more reliable and higher quality phone service". Nonsense, Shaw, it's still VoIP. Even though it's not provided through a 3rd-party carrier, it still uses an IP telephony network, ergo it's VoIP by definition.

What contempt Shaw must have for its customers, if they think everyone is so stupid as to not know what VoIP is and how it works. Hopefully, the CRTC will slam them good. I'm glad I'm not a Shaw customer.

Related perma-link.