Etisalat, Skype, UAE telecom issues
 

Just wondering if anyone uses either of these services while in the ME to call back home and do you have any comments or helpful info on them?
thanks:O

The software works in the UAE but since Etisalat (Telecommunications) is owned by the governement they've banned the software downloads on the internet and you can not upgrade with local Credit cards as VOIP is not allowed with the Etisalat internet. But if you have a non local creditcard and you've the software installed on computer it works...

Skype in the UAE
 

Hi All,
To clarify Coastrider's comments.... To my knowledge the way Etisalat has blocked Skype is by blocking access to any Skype Internet pages. If you have already downloaded the program then your only problem is putting credit on your account for SkypeOut. This can be done either by bypassing the proxy or from overseas when on a layover. There is no 'block' on UAE local credit cards being used for this purpose. Open to correction as always,
Fly safe
QF

Well mate, that can be accomplished even in DXB w/o any probs ...

Take Your computer i.e. Laptop, equipped with a LAN-Card, take it with you
to the InterNet-City (close to DXB-Marina), look for the COLORS Cafe (IneterNet-Cafe) Close to the CNN building, order a Coffee, a bagel or two, whilst your laptop can download ANYTHING available in the net, 'cause there is a "free Connection" w/o any restrictions on the pages ...
just don't surf the redlight pages, whilst the secretaries flock in to order their coffee to go for their lunch break :) - easy like that !!!

Are things the same in Bahrain with regards to the blocking of sites and the credit card issue?

I can confirm that there is no issue with locally issued credit cards, as I top up my account with a local credit card.

Then again I don't use SKYPE but a similair program that is basically the same but less well known and the site hasn't been blocked (yet!), and so you can happily download the software still. For that reason I won't give you the name of the program here, but if anyone wants it PM me.

Just run a ghostsurf programme in the back ground and you can download what you like, i've just down loaded Skype 2, it work fine.

Make the most of it....the Etisilat press statement and subsequent media releases through all the Middle East IT mags claim that a new program being to be installed by the "UAE sole telecommunications provider " called "Sniper" will be shutting down Skype and numerous other VOIP sites.

You cannot credit card recharge or download Skype from their primary sites now on the domestic Etisilat connection. The Internet city and layover options are the most commonly used. If you are a real hack though the firewall bypass would be the way ahead....and if you are able to do that PM the way to do it and great rewards will be in the post! :ok:

Relaaaaax - just met a top-notch IT-Pro from Cisco at the Media-City ..
he assured that SNIPER - or whatsoever - if it might be installed at all,
just CAN'T by ANY MEANS stop the VOIP Protocols if run via an "Anonymizer",
Ghostsurfer etc. pp .
So - Keep Skypin' - the interNet stays free fot the smart ones around ;)

What is a ghostsurfer and how do I get my hands on one?

Thanks very much for any info.

Buy ghostsurf online. I think their website is just www.ghostsurf.com or try a search through google

I wouldn't recommend running VOIP via an anonymiser. Latency issues would make it impractical.

But if you want an anonymiser, a good one is Tor (the onion router). Both powerful and more importantly... FREE!

In Doha a lot of people are having problems with the quality of the connection.

A minute or so after having started a perfectly OK conversation the quality goes down untii being almost unreadable after 5 minutes ( skype)

Any ideas how this is possible and what maybe the sollutions to this problem could be?

Thanks a lot,
Gnadirs

Heres another site https://www.megaproxy.com/ the free version lets you check out the basic concept and let you look at "banned" web sites but no downloading.

Paid version $10 for 90 days lets you download plus some other features

IN Limbo
As far as I can tell the internet here in Bahrain is completely free from any of the hangups they have in the UAE, so you should be able to download anything you want...say no more..

Anyone using satellite?
 

Using Orbit SatNet here. Advertised as "256/128", but although the download is at least as fast as claimed, the upload make a piss-poor copper connection look good:uhoh:

So Skype is useless on Orbit

Whilst it is good to be able to surf quickly (25kb/s for upload is fine for surfing) it is hopeless trying to use Skype on the Orbit connection. Works fine from the office (Saudi regular "copper" connection at about 50kb/s) it's "I can hear you but you can't hear me" if using the satellite connection.

Anyone else got the same experience? or solutions?

ExSim

do any of you use msn messenger? if u have headphones, you can chat - just like skype and it's free...

EK - Yes, you can do that with MSN or Skype - both free.

But the main thrust of Skype is that the person at the other end doesn't have to have a computer, just a phone line. (My dear Mum is getting a bit long in the tooth to work either Skype or MSN!)

As for the cost - cost me about 50 cents yesterday for a half-hour chat with my daughter - not much eh! (Her MSN isn't working, and she's waiting for The Old Man to come visit next vacation so I can fix it for her!)

I'm having same problems calling DOH from UK - sounds like the person that end is like a twanging guitar, it's such a shame.

Anyone else got the same problem in DOH?

cheers ;)
FF

I am having the same problem from doha.If I wanna talk msn to msn or skype to skype it is impossible that other person can understand you,If I try to call land line at europe via skype,also it is impossible to have good,healthy coversation.Any help?I think thats another restriction done by qatar to us,anyway we earn tax free so we can pay back our tax to them with their dirty games.I feel like in a prison:(