China makes cellphone calls using VOIP

A subsidiary of China VOIP and Digital Telecom today introduced the ability to make cellular calls using VOIP, connecting via any available WiFi network, reports Wireless Design and Wireless Asia.

The new service will mean subscribers can save money on long distance calls using VOIP. In addition, callers using the WiFi/VOIP service will not pay roaming charges outside their home area.

"Our WiFi/VOIP cellphone supports dual SIM cards," said Li Kunwu, president and CEO of China VOIP. "One is for the VOIP number, the other is for the common GSM/CDMA cellphone network."

VOIP industry giant Skype says the mobile phone industry is not ready for the VOIP revolution, reports TechWhack.

This is mostly because of the higher carrier charges implemented by the mobile service providers around the world.

The company`s applications rely on broadband connectivity to place a voice call. It bypasses the telephony network for which telecoms operators charge by the minute.

More than one million consumer customers have signed up for the BT VOIP service since June last year, reports silicon.com.

The milestone was reached six months ahead of schedule and represents more than one-third of the telco`s broadband customers.

A BT spokesman says the reason for the rapid uptake is largely due to the launch in June of Total Broadband packages, which offer a broadband subscription, inclusive VOIP minutes and some free use of BT Openzone hotspots.