US Servicemen Could Suffer in VOIP Block

Everyone wants to control the money, and the South Korean Internet providers are no different. They had been threatening to begin blocking VOIP calls through companies not registered under the Korean Telecommunications Business Act. The blocking was to begin as early as June, 2007 and would affect all the US service men currently stationed in that region.

The servicemen in South Korea use the VOIP services to stay in touch with loved ones back in the states. Providers like Vonage and Lingo allow the men to make international calls at a fraction of the landline cost.

Most of the telecoms that are registered do not have a set VOIP monthly charge or even calling specials. This meant that when the Korean block did finally take place, US servicemen would be forced to pay about the same rate as landline calls even when they used a VOIP service.

USFK Commander General B.B. Bell stepped in and worked out an agreement that will not only postpone the block, but it will also grandfather in those servicemen who currently are using the non-registered VOIP services.

The new agreement will also set up the concessionaries to provide registered VOIP services that are comparable to those being offered by the US based providers.

VOIP has continued to increase in popularity over the last few years, especially among the armed services. The pricing is varied among providers but generally only runs around $20 to $35 per month (that includes the handset).