South Korea's VOIP subscribers hits 3m

South Korea's Internet-based phone service has garnered over three million subscribers as of February, says Trading Markets.

The number of voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) subscribers now represents about 12% of the total number of fixed-line phone users, according to data gathered by 11 VOIP providers.

The largest number, or 1.32 million, subscribed to LG Dacom, which started its Internet phone service, myLG070, in June 2007. Samsung Networks dominates the corporate Internet phone market, coming in second with 400 000 subscribers, followed by top fixed-line operator KT with 390 000 subscribers.

US WiMax carrier Clearwire is running a trial of mobile VOIP phones in Portland, Oregon and should be offering mobile voice services in 2010, states Fierce VOIP.

Under the deployment plan, mobile VOIP handsets will be tested out this year with voice being incorporated into the product line in 2010. A company executive said it is testing the usage model, integration with the home phone, and WiMax network.

The VOIP-over-WiMax technology is vitally important to cable carriers invested in Clearwire, as it offers them mobile options for bundling to more effectively compete with AT&T and Verizon.

Skype VOIP version 4.0 is a new release of the communications software which improves video calling and embraces a new built-in Internet bandwidth manager, reports News Oxy.

The 4.0 version's Internet bandwidth manager provides faster data transfers using a microphone or Web cam. In addition, this version offers users state-of-the-art wideband audio quality during phone calls.

Skype 4.0 is available for Microsoft Windows and Vista and was derived based on user feedback. Voice calling enables users to make free video calls and instant messages to SMS mobile phone devices.