Wireless VOIP service unveiled

In a move that could free VOIP users from their home or office net connections, a UK Internet provider has launched a wireless VOIP (wVOIP) service that can tap into any compatible WiFi network, says Telappliant.

The service from Velophone will allow callers to use their existing SIM card and then automatically switch to making calls over VOIP when in a designated WiFi hotspot.

The VeloMobile service will initially use a handset from Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, but compatibility with a Nokia handset is being tested.

Just over 10% of Canadian households use a cable phone service, or other VOIP offering, according to a survey by Statistics Canada, which also revealed continued growth in the wireless market, reports Teleclick.

Alberta, where Shaw Communications is the leading cable incumbent, leads the country in VOIP subscriptions, with 13.5% of households using some kind of Internet phone service. On the other extreme, only 5% of Newfoundland and Labrador customers make use of VOIP.

This survey marks the first time that Statistics Canada has collected information on VOIP usage.

McAfee has warned that companies moving from fixed-line telephony to voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) could expose more people to identity fraud, says Siliconrepublic.

McAfee also predicted the emergence of voice message and instant messaging spam, an increase in hackers piggybacking on phone systems and an upsurge in malware directed at mobile phones.

A company spokesperson at McAfee's Avert Lab says hackers will seek to exploit VOIP systems the same way they exploited traditional phone systems.