Forthcoming Nokia tool will be a barrier to mobile VoIP

The Node tool, which is available to carriers, is set to offer a particularly insidious software add-on known as the Nokia Peer-to-Peer Traffic Control Solution. It's due in the first half of 2007.

Critics call it a "VoIP blocker."

Nokia won't exactly come out and say as much, but they use code words that leave little room for doubt that is what is being pitched here.

"With the explosion of affordable high-speed mobile data access, operators are now being challenged to make the best possible use of their networks, especially when peer-to-peer applications increase their traffic load and compete with their own services," Cellular-news quotes Nokia's vp-marketing and sales Roberto Loiola, as saying "The Nokia Peer-to-peer Traffic Control solution now gives operators the means to analyze and manage such traffic. It allows them to apply their business models by prioritizing the traffic of preferred services and partners, maximize their return on network investment, and avoid becoming only bit pipes for other content providers."

Hmm.. "peer-to-peer applications increase their traffic load and compete with their own services."

Think he could be talking about Skype over cell, for example? Or even other softphone services via the wireless web interfaces of mobile handsets?