As talks between the UAE government and Microsoft continue to allow operation of Skype in the country, the tech giant expressed hopes that the ban on the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system in the country will be lifted soon.
In a statement sent to The National, officials in Microsoft said they are hopeful that a deal will be secured between the company and the UAE government to allow Skype in the Gulf state.
“We are passionate about the benefits that Skype offers to our users around the world by facilitating communication and enabling collaboration,” Microsoft officials in a statement.
In April, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) confirmed that they are in talks with technology and software giants Microsoft and Apple, with the goal of making Skype and FaceTime accessible in the UAE.
TRA Director General Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri said that the UAE and the two technology firms have a strong relationship, adding that Microsoft is set to open two data centers in the UAE while Apple continues to open new stores across the Gulf state.
The two applications, among others, were banned in the country for using unauthorized and unlicensed VoIP service which the UAE does not support.
“The access to the Skype App is blocked since it is providing unlicensed Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Service, which falls under the classification of prohibited contents as per the United Arab Emirates’ Regulatory Framework,” Etisalat explained in a tweet.
Currently, UAE residents, particularly expats who wish to talk to their families in their home countries, can use Botim and C’Me can be used as an alternative for Skype. Users can experience unlimited calls and chat using these apps after they avail the telecom providers’ Internet Calling Pack for Dh50 or Dh100.
