Computer users are rushing to adopt new voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in moves to cut long-distance telephone charges and in so doing are boosting the peripherals market for VOIP telephone handsets, microphones and microphone/earpiece headsets.
So says Zandre Rudolph, business manager at Rectron, who believes that before long a majority of long-distance calls will be made using VOIP technology and Internet services that have been popularised by organisations such as Skype (internationally), QQ and Howzitonline in SA.
"Thanks to deregulation, SA is falling into line with world trends. With more than 100 commercial VOIP networks around the globe, the convergence of voice and data will pave the way for a host of new business opportunities."
Rudolph says spiralling interest in VOIP has had a significant spin-off for the peripheral products industry. "VOIP telephone handsets, microphones and microphones as well as earpiece headsets are volume sellers today."
He says that if VOIP services invade the wireless arena, which could be imminent if worldwide deregulation initiatives are successful, it would underline the powerful, stimulating effect VOIP has on the economy.
"VOIP is already encouraging users to move from dial-up Internet connectivity to ADSL, and the market can expect VOIP users to demand more bandwidth in future as voice, data and video services converge."
Against this backdrop, Rudolph says MWeb`s QQ VOIP service, which includes video compression technologies, has been widely accepted with a reported 20 000 active users in its first month in operation in SA.
"QQ is attractive to users looking for added value VOIP services such as voice conversations over the Internet, SMS services and multi-party voice and video chats," he says.
"Significantly, QQ and its international counterpart Skype are given away free so there is tremendous encouragement for users to request their counterparts to download and use the services."
Rudolph says the real driver behind the services will be the business market, particularly SMEs looking to cut telephone costs.
"Today, a Telkom call to New York, for example, will cost around R1.70 per minute. Using QQ, Skype or any of the emerging services such as Howzitonline, this can be cut to less than 45c per minute, which represents an 80% to 90% discount."
The only problem with VOIP, according to Rudolph, is voice quality, which is sometimes "patchy" over Internet connections in the bandwidth-constrained environment in which South African users operate.
"However, the newer players are using bandwidth compression technologies which ensure better voice quality which should encourage more users to sign up," he adds.
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