Inhabit 'saving money through VoIP'

A US furnishing manufacturer who three years ago switched to an internet phone service has spoken of its easy and cost efficiency.

Jennifer Tuttle, an owner of Indianapolis-based firm Inhabit, told the IndyStar.com that the news system had been a huge success and saves the company up to $75 (£36) a month in long-distance fees.

Speaking to the newspaper, Ms Tuttle said: "We always had a lot of issues with AT&T,"

"With our new virtual service, it's so easy. You can log into your own account on the Web and you know what's going on with it. There are no mistakes."

She added that she would "definitely recommend this service" particularly for those who are thinking of moving offices as it allows businesses to "pick up and go" rather than wait for a phone company to install a line.

VoIP is becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses to communication - particularly with the rise in the number of employees requesting more flexibility in terms of when and where they work.

Figures from market analyst In-Stat show that the number of companies who have now using VoIP services rose from158,000 in 2005 to 373,000 in 2006, the newspaper says.