AT&T Cingular to block free conference call services
In a stunning move, AT&T Cingular has decided to block calls made to services like FreeConferenceCall and FuturePhone, which provide free conference calls services by routing their calls through the 712 area code. The 712 rural exchange in Iowa is charging higher access charges, which are split between the "free" conference call company and the local exchange. AT&T/Cingular spokesperson Mark Siegel said, "We have to pay terminating access for every minute the person is on the line." These charges are being passed onto the customer. AT&T has filed a lawsuit against against these Iowa-based telcos stating a "violation of a number of laws and FCC decisions." In an effort to control costs, they have simply shut down access to these numbers for the time being. Siegel concludes that "in the wireless part of AT&T’s terms of service, we’re very clear that wireless calling is meant for one person to talk to another. It’s not meant for one person to call one of these lines, and we reserve the right to block calls to a variety of lines. We have chosen to do so here." Simmer down there guy.
[via Ars Technica]
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