Skype Service Is Blocked In Middle East Country

Skype Technologies VoIP service has been blocked by the state telephone and Internet service monopoly in Oman, according to reports from the Middle Eastern country.

Omantel, the Oman national telecommunications provider, told Internet publication Skype Journal that Omantel staff members said the block will likely continue, even after the telephone provider completes a public offering of its stock this week.

According to Skype Journal, the block is keeping Oman residents from using the Skype service including downloading and updating its software and from buying various features from the Web telephoning service.

Earlier this year, the United Arab Emirates began blocking Skype's service. The UAE had a standing policy of blocking VoIP sites and previously blocked Net2Phone service in the Middle Eastern nation. Users trying to access VoIP sites in the UAE are greeted with a "site blocked" message, according to reports from the UAE.

Other countries with open telecommunications systems have complained about VoIP service, because it takes revenues from indigenous telephone services. The telephone monopoly in Costa Rica " Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) -- has threatened to propose legislation that would criminalize the use of Web telephoning, although no target companies were cited by name.