How ISPs May Quietly Kill VoIP

[Steve]

I found this article linked over at Slashdot. If you enjoy Skype, or another VoIP program, then be prepared for a drop in reliability if your ISP decides to get sneaky.

As the phone and cable companies begin offering their own VoIP services in real volume, they plan to "tag" their own VoIP packets so that at least within their own networks, their VoIP service will have COS (Class of Service) assignments with their routers, switches, etc. They also plan on implementing distinct Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) for the tagged packets.

Tagged packets get both less restrictive rules for passage and a private highway lane to drive on.

The net effect is that any packet that isn't tagged will only get "best effort" service, which means whatever is left.

Clever, but a bit underhanded if you ask me.

[The story]

[ikonia]

nope, all fair and above board.

the UK's core network is crap, Japans rocks.

Why should the Internet users or their providers (ISP's) have to suffer the bloat that is VOIP on their networks ? there is an ATM network for phone calls, use it. Until people get the UK's network and atlantic links respectible its just going to hammer the more regular users.

Also broadband users will also start to flood and already busy core network.

[Swafe]

I think they should have to have the 'bloat' of VOIP on their servers, if you pay for unlimited broadband, the ISP is entitled so supply as much bandwidth as you require, and as fast as they can, if they slow down your packets as opposed to other ones its a bit mean seing as you pay them to provide a service, and there not giving you it at full speed as your not using their VOIP?

[Kumagoro]

If doing this has an affect on ping times in games i would be annoyed.