Internet calls in UAE: What will happen if BOTIM stops functioning

There are around 9 million expatriates in the UAE who have to keep in touch with family and friends back home.

While popular apps such as Skype or the call features of WhatsApp don't work here, telecom providers in the country have come up with plans for customers who can choose to pay for an app that will allow for good-quality voice and video calls over the internet

The BOTIM app is one of the apps that residents can use for video/voice calls over the internet with a subscription plan. There are plans available for mobile data and WiFi connectivity.

The plan for VoIP calls with telecom providers start at Dh5 a day to Dh100 a month, depending on how you intend to use the facility. For example, at Dh5 a day (without 5 per cent VAT), Etisalat and du allow for unlimited voice/video calling with your mobile data plus extra data for use on suuported apps.

Instead you could also pay Dh50 a month for unlimited video/voice calls using mobile data. If your family also needs the app, spending Dh100 a month can get you access to the app through home WiFi which means everyone at home can use the calling facility.

In light of an unconfirmed media report that BOTIM will stop working soon, here's what will most likely happen.

Using another app: BOTIM is just one of the supported apps on both du and Etisalat - you should be able to easily switch the plan over to these apps based on your needs. For example, Yzer is more like a cloud-based app with a focus on messaging. It promises automatic translation, high quality video calls, voice calls, texts, group chats and more, to any other users across another other network or country.

Voico UAE is yet another BOTIM-like app for video and voice calls on desktop and mobile. This one is currently only supported by Etisalat.

C'ME and HIU are the two other apps available for du and Etisalat. HIU allows for calls (video and voice) along with web chats on your desktop, very similar to C'ME that has the requisite video/voice calling features.

Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, had said in April that talks were on to explore lifting restrictions on some voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The popular ones are Skype, Tango, Facetime and Viber in Dubai.

Mohammad Al Kuwaiti, executive director of the UAE’s National Electronic Security Authority said the UAE is in talks with WhatsApp - bringing up hopes for the possibility of WhatsApp calls being made available in the UAE. “There might be a lift of that ban for [WhatsApp] voice calls… and this is going to happen soon, this is what we know and understand from the telecommunication authority here in the UAE,” said Al Kuwaiti. However, there has not been any further official update or confirmation on this from TRA.