Mobile VoIP is driving network neutrality

When Voice over IP first began to get a foothold in the Internet landscape, traditional phone companies failed to realize the potential - and the threat - of this new type of communication system. This, in turn, allowed new businesses, such as Skype and Vonage to establish themselves as legitimate competitors to the Baby Bells. Now the technology, commonly known as VoIP, is starting to reach into the mobile marketplace - and wireless carriers are making just as many mistakes. As a result, a new battle is brewing - one that could result in major changes to the mobile landsacape. The level of network usage for a mobile carrier determines the quality of service - so the rules governing how these resources are allocated is becoming a hot debate. Several carriers are facing legal headaches after capping bandwidth or blocking VoIP applications.