Loss of VoIP in Qatar

Posts: 39 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:58 am Post subject: Loss of VoIP in Qatar

I mentioned before that I have contacted Vonage Customer service. Please find below their response.

Thank you for contacting Customer Care.

As per our investigation, your ISP is blocking communication between your device and our Servers. We have attempted to change the ports and servers your device communicates with however, the issue still persists.

We would request you to contact your ISP to get this issue resolved as they are interfering with our communication.

The following ports are needed for OUTGOING Internet communications from the Vonage device to the Vonage servers.

DNS: Port 53 UDP (Domain Name Server - for resolving server IP addresses)

TFTP: Port 69 UDP (for profile upgrades/downgrades)

HTTP: Port 80 UDP (for firmware upgrades/downgrades)

NTP: Port 123 UDP (Network Time Protocol - so the device can sync to the proper time for Caller ID)

The following ports are needed for INCOMING and OUTGOING Internet communications from and to Vonage devices and servers.

SIP: Port 5061 UDP is used for older Vonage devices (devices provisioned before 2005). Newer devices are provisioned onto port 10000.

RTP (Voice) Traffic: Ports 10000-20000 UDP. When a call is made, a random port between 10000 and 20000 is used for RTP (Voice) traffic. If any of these ports are blocked, you may experience one way or no audio

If you have any questions now or in the future Vonage Customer Care is eager to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please visit our help center at http://www.vonage.com/help.php?lid=nav_help or send us an email from our Contact Us page at http://www.vonage.com/help_contactUs.php?lid=footer_contact. You can also call us Toll Free at: 1-VONAGE-HELP (1-866-243-4357).

Sincerely,

Vonage Customer Care

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 12

A reply to my blogspot on www.qatarliving.com said that iconnecthere has a patch for their system which blocks QTel's worm. Can vonage create a similar thing I wonder? Perhaps we should contact customer support. If not, I think I'll be switching services.

First, I'd like to completely exploit the options for QTel resolving this matter on their own. I don't want to punish Vonage for QTel's greed.

Speaking of greed, the Islamic Scholar, Yusuf Qaradawi, just issued a condemnation of the insane increase on rents in Doha which is putting many of the economically disadvantaged in a tight spot. I'm seriously either thinking about getting active here or moving someplace where there is less money to corrupt the people.

Posts: 39 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:03 am Post subject: Re: Other Services

yahya wrote:

A reply to my blogspot on www.qatarliving.com said that iconnecthere has a patch for their system which blocks QTel's worm. Can vonage create a similar thing I wonder? Perhaps we should contact customer support. If not, I think I'll be switching services.

First, I'd like to completely exploit the options for QTel resolving this matter on their own. I don't want to punish Vonage for QTel's greed.

Speaking of greed, the Islamic Scholar, Yusuf Qaradawi, just issued a condemnation of the insane increase on rents in Doha which is putting many of the economically disadvantaged in a tight spot. I'm seriously either thinking about getting active here or moving someplace where there is less money to corrupt the people.

Dear Yahya,

Let us stay focused on the issue at hand that is Qtel blocking VoIP internet traffic. Cost of living is not the topic of this forum. We are trying to pressure Qtel through the democratic way we use to and through the only channels we have, American Embassy, the Qatari Government, international media and customer service. We do not want to go into other issues that our colleagues and I might not agree with. All Expatriates has other options if Qtel keep its censorship over the World Wide Web (WWW) and convert it to Limited Access Web (LAW), we can leave Qatar once our contract expires. Please let us not interfere with Qatar Politics and keep this forum focused on our issue.

Thanks,

Posts: 2135 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:22 am Post subject: Re: Other Services

bmardini wrote:

...Let us stay focused on the issue at hand that is Qtel blocking VoIP internet traffic. Cost of living is not the topic of this forum.... Please let us not interfere with Qatar Politics and keep this forum focused on our issue.

Thank you bmardini.

Although religion, politics and social issues are important to most all people, those topics really do not belong here.

In no way do I mean any disrespect to anyone of any color, race or religion; I do request that this thread is kept on topic with the thread title.

Thank you,

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 12

yahya wrote:

A reply to my blogspot on www.qatarliving.com said that iconnecthere has a patch for their system which blocks QTel's worm. Can vonage create a similar thing I wonder? Perhaps we should contact customer support. If not, I think I'll be switching services.

First, I'd like to completely exploit the options for QTel resolving this matter on their own. I don't want to punish Vonage for QTel's greed.

Speaking of greed, the Islamic Scholar, Yusuf Qaradawi, just issued a condemnation of the insane increase on rents in Doha which is putting many of the economically disadvantaged in a tight spot. I'm seriously either thinking about getting active here or moving someplace where there is less money to corrupt the people.

Dear Yahya
Other VOIP services are not working as well , PC to phone services does not compare to VOIP, however some of those services are still working such as Dialpad and also PC/PC like AIM if you try it its Ok but not like the service you are getting with VOIP.
I don't think Qtel will do anything, if they are really smart, they would offer a new subscription which would allow VOIP for additional fees , say 600 or even 700 QR, that would solve their problem as well as ours, as I think most of us can afford that.

Posts: 39 · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 5:23 am Post subject: Re: Other Services

aladin405 wrote:

aladin405 wrote
if they are really smart, they would offer a new subscription which would allow VOIP for additional fees , say 600 or even 700 QR, that would solve their problem as well as ours, as I think most of us can afford that.

I can speak on my behalf and few of my fiends too. I can live with the approach of Qtel charging an extra fee for the use of this service. In addition, I will go along with this suggestion.

Please let us keep the pressure on the American Embassy and by emailing them and signing the petition our colleague Ahmad had created. This can go somewhere.

Thanks,

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 12

My apologies, just guess I'm a bit flustered about several situations here. They seem inextricably linked. But you guys are right; this is indeed the VONAGE forum.

Apparently Sheikha Ozma has a link where you can e-mail her on her site. Doesn't hurt to try.

I e-mailed customer support to see if they could provide a patch like iconnect's. I don't know if their patch applies just to their PC to Phone service or their VoIP as well. I'd much rather stick with Vonage, they've been great so far (except for customer service agents in India that can't understand me - not the agents' fault though).

It seems their are Qatari connections to be utilized in this battle. If you have any connections USE them. This could likely prove to be a case of who we know and not what we know solving the problem. I'm working on my own.

Not so sure I'd be willing to pay extra for VoIP to the exten tof 600 QR though. Are you talking montlhy or annually.

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 13, 2005 Posts: 12

I meant monthly TOTAL including DSL, we use to pay 750 QR for the 500kbps, they have dropped the price to 400 and jack the rate to 2 mbps, so the 700 or 600 might be fair enough.
I have mailed an invitation to Texas A&M staff members to join the forum.

Posts: 39

Dear Colleagues,

Many colleagues and I just received an email from Praveen Menon, IRC Director, and Public Affairs Section of the American Embassy. The American Ambassador signs the letter. It reads as follow:

To Vonage Customers in Qatar,

In recent days, the Embassy has heard from a number of Americans in Qatar who have lost access to the internet telephone service. The Vonage company in the U.S. has confirmed that the cutoff was initiated hear in Qatar.

Earlier today, I spoke with the minister for Economy and Commerce, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Ahmad Al Thani, to express concern about the loss of this service. I noted that many Americans private citizens as well as military personnel rely on this service to keep in touch with families and conduct personal business back in the United States.

The Minister assured me that he would look into the mater right away. The Embassy will follow up in hopes that this service is restored as soon as possible.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

Chase Untermeyer
US Ambassador to Qatar

All I can say thanks for every one that sent a letter to the Ambassador and signed the petition. When people unite, we can accomplish every thing.

God bless you all and God Bless America

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

I love happy endings. Very Happy