As you didn't provide much information I'll just list all the possible errors in your method.
- Bitcoin isn't running as a server/daemon
- You're using the wrong port when trying to connect (maybe try default port 8333?)
No. It's ok. Locally, I can "telnet" and "http" to localhost:8332 (with nonsense result, but it proves the daemon is listening).
- You're trying to reach the server from outside the local network and haven't configured NAT and/or firewall exceptions in the router
The server has public address, with no NAT device. Perhaps I should take a peek to "iptables", but I think ports over 1024 are visible by default...
- bitcoin.conf file uses whitelisting of IPs or is forbidding remote access
Only rcpuser and rcppassword are on bitcoin.conf.
But this is worth to investigate: the options in bitcoin.conf I'll quickly go to the wiki to dig out the matter.
Thanks again!