Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX

This article from Inquirer a few days amuses me to no end.

Gladys Vergara, a “software development enthusiast” as described by the article (I wonder what that means, really?), offered free international calls in the light of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, using a device she designed herself:

To offer free international calls, Vergara used a customized adaptor, built to her specifications, which allows free access to existing telephone networks or which enables her to digitally translate voice messages made through these telephone calls so she can send them through the Internet.

Vergara said her adaptor is being sold to select distributors in the United States but has not yet been sold in the country for fear that giant telecommunications firms will block her efforts. [INQ7]

Of course PLDT was quick to react to protect their monopoly:

But some officials of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. are keeping their eyes on this free service.

A PLDT source said the gadget may be tapping into their network, and this threatens their commercial franchise.

PLDT has started marketing its digital fiber optic project that broadens Internet access here.

“I have already received a call from PLDT alerting me to legal problems should I commercialize this gadget. I haven’t. I am offering it for free,” Vergara said. [INQ7]

Funny that PLDT should worry about her gadget. VOIP phones are not at all uncommon; many multinationals use such gadgets to connect to their head offices everyday. I wonder if someone in PLDT isn’t doing their homework.

On the other hand, I’m willing to bet that she doesn’t use PLDT to connect to the internet.