Egypt Shutting Down Cell Phone Networks

But Google's helping people get around Internet blocks
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 1, 2011 1:19 AM CST
Egypt Shutting Down Cell Phone Networks
A man takes pictures with his cell phone on Tahrir, or Liberation Square, in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Egypt is again targeting communication networks ahead of a million-man protest planned today. Mobile phone networks will be shut down over the next few hours, CNN reports. Google has announced on its official blog that it has set up a "speak-to-tweet" service to help Egyptians get around Internet blocks. Voicemail messages left at an international phone number will be instantly uploaded.
(More North Africa unrest stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X