[Chapter-delegates] Google verification - now excluded an entire country

[Joly MacFie]

I agree this is a serious issue. Perhaps PICISOC could kick things off
by making a public statement.

j




>> On Thu, April 15, 2010 1:53 pm, David Leeming wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Google / Gmail accounts now use SMS or Voice call verification. In our
>>> region, the Pacific Islands, this effectively is excluding everyone from
>>> creating a new account.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> For example, I just tried again, to create a Gmail account. It just says
>>> "this country (Solomon Islands) is not supported" and gives no other
>>> option.
>>> Looks like a whole country has been excluded!!! Others in the region have
>>> told me the same experience - Vanuatu for instance.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This is a blow because we have been building an online community for a
>>> Youth
>>> project here (http://isabel-youth.ning.com), using a Google group as an
>>> online  "community of practice". Even if SMS verification worked, few of
>>> these people have mobile phones, even fewer of them live in a location
>>> with
>>> mobile coverage. Most access a shared/community Internet facility. Voice
>>> call verification would not be an option either, for same reason and also
>>> lack of fixed lines in 85% of the country (75% of the country with no
>>> mobile
>>> coverage). As calls into the Solomons are amongst the highest in the world
>>> (it costs over EUR 1 / min to call using a TOIP service) I can't imagine
>>> voice call verification would be supported anyway. Google would not be
>>> that
>>> generous.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I think this is something ISOC might take up with Google. It is a very
>>> backward step, creating barriers to access for the most disadvantaged.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> David Leeming
>>>
>>> Leeming Consulting, P.O. Box 652, Honiara, Solomon Islands
>>>
>>> Tel: +677 747-6396 (m) 24419 (h)
>>>
>>> www.leeming-consulting.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Chapter-delegates mailing list
>>> Chapter-delegates at elists.isoc.org
>>> https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/listinfo/chapter-delegates
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Bill
>> William F. Slater, III, PMP
>> Chicago, IL
>> United States of America
>> slater at billslater.com
>> http://billslater.com
>> http://billslater.com/career
>> 773 - 235 - 3080 - Home
>> 312 - 758 - 0307 - Mobile
>> 312 - 275 - 5757 - FAX & Voicemail
>>
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>
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