Special Skype version in China

[onebir]

I just tried to go to the Skype website to download it, & got redirected to http://skype.tom.com/.

Thewikipedia article on Skype mentions that:

Skype is one of many companies (others include AOL, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Cisco) which has cooperated with the Chinese government in implementing a system of Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China. Niklas Zennström, chief executive to Skype, told reporters that its joint venture partner in China is operating in compliance with domestic law. "TOM Online had implemented a text filter, which is what everyone else in that market is doing," said Zennström. "Those are the regulations," he said. "I may like or not like the laws and regulations to operate businesses in the UK or Germany or the US, but if I do business there I choose to comply with those laws and regulations. I can try to lobby to change them, but I need to comply with them. China in that way is not different."

Since late September, users in China trying to download the Skype software are redirected to the TOM site from which a modified Chinese version can be downloaded. Activists in China are warned about the possibility that TOM's versions have or will have more trojan capability.

If you don't like the sound of this there are other places you can download (what appear to be) non-Chinese versions of Skype that don't redirect you. I'm downloading from www.filehippo.com, but I imagine there are other places.

However, I guess it's possible the Skype network will somehow block me for using one of these from China...

[Senzhi]

I'm beta testing Skype 4.0 (English version) and have no censorship/blocking problems at all.

That is not to say I didn't find any problems with the software ... but then it's called "beta" for a reason.

[imron]

You should be able to download the English version from Skype here. It's only the main page that redirects. The English version works fine from within China.

As for version 4, I really don't like it. I don't want a big friggin' window taking up my whole screen. I just want a nice little unobtrusive list of contacts that I can have floating either over or under my other windows.

[self-taught-mba]

Generally speaking I hate all redirects. Was going to buy a an software product and it kept redirecting me to the Chinese site for purchase. Not only was it hard to understand (the product names were different of course), but the only way was to da3qian2 or buy at a distributorship. So I kept my $39. And despite knowing Chinese, I don't always want the Chinese download of a software with no other choice. The English version is hard enough if it is complicated.

Customers often need our help when their MSN, order page, or some other random thing insists on redirecting. Irritating. (I know we are in China, but it seems that an account originally registered in the US should at least have the option to switch back to English) I know the number is small in China, but I suspect worldwide the number of expats with the problem runs into the millions.

[badr]

the TOM version does filter out certain words.. if an of you has access to it, try using the F word and see wether or not it appears on your screen

[chilli-hot]

Having problems with Skype downloads redirecting to TOM for the Chinese version. Just goto www.skype.com.au first (any .au version of a site seems to work) then navigate to where ever you want to go to from there - yes even www.skype.com (without the China redirection).

This China redirection BUG really annoys me, and immediately always brings on a challenge. I have never been stumped. 25 years working with the www (when just an academic/research network) I have learnt many tricks.

For those really hard sites. Set up a machine in hour home country - say with Mum/Grandma and then www.teamviewer.com (free for private use - brilliant remote control) into it and download whatever you want and transfer from Mum's/Gran's desktop to your own desktop - ALL PROBLEMS solved.

Also - use HTTPS for you email account coonnections if you have this ability (your own www server/host) so to stop the prying eyes of the 50k internet police.

Cheers.

[Senzhi]

I've finally decided to remove Skype completely. I do not support companies that act in socially irresponsible ways, such as Yahoo, Flickr etc. (... and now Skype), all for the solely purpose of their financial benefits.

There are plenty of alternatives that'll do the job.

[chilli-hot]

It has nothing to do with SKYPE. It is just that if you want to continue to use Skype in CHINA then you must give us a customised CHINA patrolled version. At one time there were rumours that China wanted it stopped altogether cause China Telecom was loosing out on potential revenue.

I have been with SKYPE since birth (SKYPEIN SKYPEOUT - local number in AU or multiple countries, redirects to China mobile or any phone in the world when you can't pickup, www.fring.com - use SKYPE on your Nokia N95 - what else would you want). To put it quite mildly "there is nothing like it here in China (sanctioned) or the rest of the world for that matter".

If you want the international non patrolled version then it is available - no restrictions!!

I've got it and all my mates here in China have got it also.

I can't see ya problem? I think you are giving up on a really good thing.

Cheers.

[md1101]

wow skype 4 really does suck

[imron]

Majorly!

[liuzhou]

I do not support companies that act in socially irresponsible ways

That must make life difficult!

[Senzhi]

That must make life difficult!

Not at all, on the contrary, it makes sure I feel still in control. Of course I wasn't talking in extremis, but some companies really show no concern at all, never listen to feedback, and show poor support towards their customers.

... and then came "Open Source" to the rescue, but we're getting off topic here.

[imron]

As much as I love open source,

really show no concern at all, never listen to feedback, and show poor support towards their customers.

could also describe more than one or two open source software projects (note, telling customers they have the source code and so can fix it themselves if they don't like it, is not good support )

[ipsi()]

Open Source developers also seem to have a strange aversion to documentation...

[roddy]

This is reassuring - yes, your messages are all being monitored and we might accidentally make information about you public. But as far as I can tell, it doesn't matter what version of Skype you use, so you don't need to worry about that at least . . .

[Entropy_Rising]

That's what I'm trying to figure out - if whether or not this whole "stored data for usage of keywords" fiasco applies to all skype users in China or people using specifically the TOM software. According to a release by the Skype president, the breach applies only to users of the TOM software, and that this breach slipped past them because it was a Chinese company - TOM - doing it in order to meet domestic legal requirements.

It's important to remind everybody that the issues highlighted in yesterday's Information Warfare Monitor / ONI Asia report refer only to communications in which one or more parties are using TOM software to conduct instant messaging. It does not affect communications where all parties are using standard Skype software. Skype-to-Skype communications are, and always have been, completely secure and private.

This reassures me a little bit but it would be better to hear it from sources other than the company that is now under the gun.

[md1101]

im pretty annoyed with skype. i know there are local requirements so i understood when they said there is text filtering on the tom skype version a couple of years ago. but that messages are being stored as well?

i don't know what's worse .. that skype knew about it and didn't tell anyone because it was 'required' by local requirements.

OR that skype really didn't know about it which just shows how unprofessional they are as a company that they don't monitor what their local partner does with their own software.

Edited October 6, 2008 at 12:04 AM by md1101