VoIP to be banned in China, Clearwire CEO calls it quits

LEADING THE DAY: China has moved to ban all VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services except two state-owned networks, China Unicom and China Telecom, likely making Internet telephony services just as Skype illegal to use. The Telegraph reported that some Chinese Twitter users were reporting they could not download the Skype client, even though it was running fine in Shanghai. Skype issued a statement saying that "users in China currently can access Skype via Tom Online, our partner," and refused to comment on speculation that it will be banned.

The Telegraph spoke to said it

Experts whom the Telegraph spoke to said it would be difficult to enforce the ban and unlikely that such a ban could actually shut down the use of Skype in China. Professor Kan Kaili at Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications said, "Skype is the market leader, nevertheless there is as well MSN and Gmail Talk. The children of Chinese government officials, who are studying abroad, use these services to call home, so I do not think anyone is going to cut the lines. Even if they take a strict approach, just as getting local operators to block the broadband services of people who use Skype, people will on the whole find a way around it."

Clearwire CEO stepping down: From Bloomberg, Clearwire CEO Craig McCaw will step down today. McCaw announced his decision in a filing on Thursday. In an e-mailed statement, McCaw said that Clearwire will continue its efforts to create a nationwide 4G network.

"Today, with a 4G network covering one-third of the U.S. population and serving near 3 million clients, including those from some of the leading names in telecommunications, Clearwire is then on its way to realizing that vision," he said in an e-mailed statement.

Bloomberg reports that stakeholder Eagle River Holdings LLC, which nominated McCaw for the CEO position, plans to name ICO Global Communications Holdings Ltd. and former Clearwire co-chairman Brian Wolff to the position.

Myspace could layoff 50 percent of workforce: Network Effect reported Friday that multiple sources at Myspace are saying the company could be for sale and might lay off up to 50 percent of its workforce. The social network, which underwent a major redesign six weeks ago, has not but decided what employee cuts to make, even though the entire Myspace staff was given the last week of December off in a cost-cutting move.

Phone firms back universal charger in Europe: Fourteen phone firms, including Nokia, Innovation In Motion, Apple and Samsung, have agreed to specifications from the European Commission to base all phone chargers on mini-USB innovation. As the BBC reported Thursday, the specifications only apply to smartphone chargers, as the commission said smartphones are likely to be the most popular type of phone in Europe within the then two years.

FCC spokeswoman leaving: Federal Communications Commission spokeswoman Jen Howard announced she will be leaving her post afterwards a year and a half. She will be taking a senior communications role at the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Her last day at the FCC will be Jan. 14.