Skype eyes Web browsers

Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) provider, Skype plans to introduce services early next year that can be accessed via Web browsers, reports Smart Company.

The company is also set to integrate VOIP services with some major partner social networks, including Facebook and LinkedIn.

Skype also hopes to earn money through these new products by creating some premium features, such as text messaging and other types of call features.

The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has suspended Braintel's licence with immediate effect, states TeleGeography.

The regulator claims the telco had illegally been developing a VOIP platform and providing network access and switching services to customers beyond the Lahore region.

Prior to the suspension of the licence, PTA served Braintel a show cause notice in May, which the operator responded to, claiming that it had done no wrong. The telco subsequently lodged a writ petition with the Lahore High Court against the show cause notice, but this was rejected.

Despite a growth in VOIP products available on the market, the UK has failed in taking advantage of the technology, says IT Pro.

Research from Ofcom claims that there are only 5% UK VOIP subscribers, compared to 20% in the Netherlands and 26% in France.

“VOIP services tend to be more popular in countries where there is high demand for international calls or where broadband is available to consumers without the need for a landline services,” the research firm states.