Text transcription VoIP solutions 'to be big in 2009'

VoIP solutions capable of voice-to-text transcriptions will be a big feature of 2009, it has been claimed.

Robert Poe from VoIP News explained that the service is already popular among users, because it allows them to read their messages "in any order instead of having to negotiate a tedious key-press menu to listen to them in sequence".

Additionally, many services allow voice messages to be recorded which are then sent as text messages or emails.

However, VoIP providers will also find the technology useful, as they will be able to charge for the service.

"Since transcription usually requires some human intervention, no one expects such services to be free," said Mr Poe.

"That means providers don't have to wait to build a large user base before earning revenue."

A study released last month found that most small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) without VoIP solutions would like have one in the future.

The research, conducted by Omniboss for Viatel, revealed that more than half of SMEs did not have VoIP, but 95 per cent of those would like it.