Following Google’s sharp criticism on mobile operators for their efforts to block access to certain popular services like Google Map applications and VoIP, Vodafone came out to defend the mobile service providers.
For Vodafone, VoIP is not a service. It is simply a technology to enable cheap phone calls. The customers are not looking for the VoIP services rather they want mobile services.
Terming VoIP as irrelevant in mobile communication, Bobby Rao, Vodafone Corporate Strategy Director in UK said,
VoIP is not a service. It’s a technology, which provides only one thing-cheaper call-and we can provide cheaper calls very easily by cutting prices.
He continued,
We think the best way to offer people cheaper calling plans is to offer them cheaper calling plans...The value customers are looking for is not VoIP.
A Google senior executive, Chris Sacca has disparaged the mobile operators for putting pressure on the search giant to block people accessing Google Mobile Maps. He also said that mobile operators do not want to allow people access to VoIP applications.
