T-Mobile UK bans VoIP and IM on HSDPA network

T-Mobile UK is taking a hard-line approach, and it will be interesting to see how other providers, and their customers, react. The carrier will not allow customers to use their HSDPA network for VoIP or instant messaging. The penalty for being caught doing so will be expulsion from the network. The move comes about as T-Mobile has announced their new Web ‘n Walk Professional plan, which allows for unlimited data at a flat rate over the network at speeds up to 1.8 Mbps.

The problem T-Mobile could run into is if the rest of the providers don’t make a similar move. By restricting the use of their network, particularly for cost-saving VoIP, you could severely restrict the appeal of the service for many customers. The other possibility is that the rumors of an impending VoIP client from T-Mobile are true and this move is just preliminary to the announcement of that service later in the summer.