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Yesterday, T-Mobile UK announced the launch of its web 'n' walk Professional wireless data tariff, which coincides with the introduction of a quad-band HSDPA data card. Initially, connection speeds will be in the region of 380Kbps, but as the operator brings its HSDPA network online in the summer, the company expects consistent speeds of around 1Mbps with the possibility of 1.8Mbps. However, while T-Mobile is to be commended for the aggressive pricing of this service - just £19 ($35) a month - the Web 'n' Walk professional tariff comes with the following draconian restriction:

"Use of Voice over Internet Protocol and Messaging over Internet Protocol is prohibited by T-Mobile. If use of either or both of these services is detected T-Mobile may terminate all contracts with the customer and disconnect any SIM cards and/or web 'n' walk cards from the T-Mobile network."

Such a restriction beggars belief. It's like your electricity provider allowing you to power your lights, TV and sound system, but threatening to disconnect your supply if it catches you powering your fridge and microwave.

It'll be interesting to see how T-Mobile goes about policing this policy, but not nearly as interesting to see how users go about policing themselves. For most, Messenger and Skype will automatically launch when their laptop is booted. Some might have multiple messaging and VoIP clients running. So, what should they do? Must they remember to shut down these applications every time they connect their machine to the T-Mobile network? What happens if they receive an incoming call or IM? Perhaps T-Mobile might allow their customers a quick reply: "sorry, I can't talk, or my service provider will get pissed!"

Rob Langton, T-Mobile UK's Data Marketing Manager, defended these restrictions when speaking with ZDNet, stating that "We're aiming at the business network. We spoke to our customers and [VoIP and IM are] not key to them." Which either means that T-Mobile's corporate customer base consists largely of cavemen, or the operator has an unusual way of defining the word "key". It also begs the questions: if VoIP and IM aren't important, then why ban them?

T-Mobile has hinted that it may eventually open up its network to VoIP and IM, but with VoIP and IM services of its own. It is really difficult to imagine how this would work. Is T-Mobile going to start its own IM service to compete with Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo? Or will it offer some type of unified messaging client but charge customers for the privilege of using it over the 3G network? Either approach seems doomed from the outset.

It is a bit unfortunate to be picking on T-Mobile in this way since the operator is generally one of the most open-minded in the industry - it was the first major player to adopt an open web approach versus the walled-garden strategies of 3 and Vodafone, and in the UK, T-Mobile has opened its network to the most number of MVNOs (Virgin Mobile, easyMobile etc.). However, T-Mobile's attempt to shackle its customers in this way is condescending to users and looks desperate. It also supplies regulators with fresh ammunition in their fight to force more competition into the mobile industry. Anyone doubting the regulator's ability to do this need look no further than this week's 40% capitulation by Vodafone on its international roaming charges in response to EU pressure.

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