France Demands Skype Register As a Telco 209
jfruh writes "Skype made a name for itself by largely bypassing the infrastucture — and the costs, and the regulations — of the legacy telecommunications industry. But now the French telecom regulator wants to change that, at least in France. At issue is not the service's VoIP offering, but rather the Skype Out service that allows users to dial phones on traditional networks. Regulators say that this service necessitates that Skype face the same regulations as other telecoms."
Re:Why Silicon Valley did not happen in France (Score:2, Funny)
Ah, France. You’re so dynamic and quick to embrace change From the Toubon Law [culture.gouv.fr] to propping up Minitel [wsj.com] to the stoic way you embraced labor regulations aimed at easing ridiculously high unemployment by making the first two years of employment somewhat more flexible with your non à la précarité [pbs.org] movement... (Does make for decent wine, though, and likely will for centuries [memory-alpha.org].)
Re:As anal as France is.... (Score:2, Funny)
Let me just state for the record. If France is on one side of an issue ...
There is about a 92.6% chance I am on the other.
And a 100% chance you can walk around the end of the issue and get behind them.
Re:As anal as France is.... (Score:4, Funny)
Absolutely - but I suspect this is in the 8%. And their cheese isn't bad either.
They make good fries and toast! While many slashdotters have not tried it, their kiss ain't too shabby either.
Re:As anal as France is.... (Score:4, Funny)
"What has the UK done since 1945?"
Well, their contribution to rock & roll , entertaining dialects, beer and drama still trump anything France has done in that time period.
"UK electricity ~ 20% nuclear
France ~ 80% nuclear"
France generates more Nuclear waste? England generates more wind power. Was there a discernible point?
"UK space effort - launched one 66Kg satellite in 1971
France - Arianespace"
I attend many lavish fireworks displays, but I don't feel obliged to pay for one. So France throws its money around on a space program that could be covered by others.
"UK exports (2011) $479,200,000,000 (10th in world)
France: $589,700,000,000 (5th in world)"
The U.K. seems to specialize in administration, let them administer Frances output for a higher yield. Good point.
"UK (#2 after USA) 162.973 billion USD
France (#4) 117.676 billion USD"
I believe a business deal could be struck where France is leased to China to pay off the U.K. debt.