Dubai: The impact of Facebook's offering of new free Skype-powered video calling services on its global social media network is still uncertain in the UAE, say telecom analysts.
While separate stand-alone Skype software is still not legally licensed in the Emirates, the question remains whether Skype-powered video calling that is physically integrated into the Facebook website is viewed by authorities as a legal activity. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Etisalat and du could not be reached by Gulf News for comment by deadline yesterday.
Chris Fernando, managing editor of PC Magazine Middle and Near East, said on Thursday that he also tested the new service but the service wouldn't work.
"I've been trying to use it but an error keeps popping up," Fernando said Thursday.
Hassan Sandila, telecoms analyst for IDC Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said it isn't clear whether Facebook's video calling will be blocked.
"Since it does not directly affect the revenue of the telecom operators, the Skype ban in the UAE is more to do with the PC to phone calls and not PC to PC calls. In all probability, like every-where else in the world, Facebook users in the UAE should also be able to access the newly launched Facebook-Skype video-calling service," he said yesterday from Dubai offices.
