VOIP makes ISD cheap

MTNL and Aksh Optifibre have reportedly launched the country's cheapest voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service in New Delhi, says Tech Tree.

With this service, all MTNL broadband subscribers and MTNL PCO holders can call the US, UK, Canada, and Australia at rates as low as Re1 per minute. Using the service will be similar to making calls from a normal telephone without having to use a PC.

The VOIP service will potentially reach more than 4 million MTNL broadband subscribers in Delhi and Mumbai. It will also be available to all MTNL PCO holders.

It's still an open question whether Vonage will ever make it into the black. But one thing isn't in doubt, says The Street.

The well-financed telecom venture, which has spent nearly $700 million in the past few years, flooding the airwaves with commercials, has brought Internet telephony into the mainstream.

Even a couple of years ago, few people had heard of VOIP, and the technology was still in its early stages. Voice quality wasn't great. However, these days it's getting easier to drop the phone company like a bad and expensive habit, The Street says.

VOIP can "massively boost productivity" by un-tethering individuals from the office, it has been claimed, reports Cripp Sears.

David Brunnen, forum leader at the Communications Management Association, urges business leaders to consider wider uptake of VOIP.

"The ability to answer your office number regardless of where in the world you happen to be opens up all manner of new opportunities," he explains.