Move to VoIP 'will happen'

There is likely to be an increase in the level of VoIP traffic as a move away from fixed lines continues, a claim has suggested. The move would lead to the end of fixed line telephones, AT&T has reportedly claimed.

According to PC World, the communications provider said that a complete migration to IP-based systems is likely to happen.

In a response to the US Federal Communications Commission, the organisation said: "With each passing day, more and more communications services migrate to broadband and IP-based services, leaving the public switched telephone network and plain-old telephone service as relics of a bygone era."

The news provider added that an increasing number of people are making the switch solely to mobile, opting to completely remove a landline from their home, and that as mobile technology has improved, more features have become available on the move.

However, there do remain some reasons why people choose to keep a landline with a fixed dial tone - but as technology improvements are made, even these reasons are slipping away, the news provider suggests.

Others have also predicted that VoIP traffic will grow over the coming year. Ari Rabban of Phone.com told TMCnet that the VoIP market will continue to grow in 2010.