VoIP to 'explode' in 2010

The use of VoIP technology is set to become much more widespread in 2010, an expert has predicted.

Chad Behling, of open source software company RockBochs, said there will be significant market growth in the VoIP sector over the next few years as bandwidth increases and the use of analogue lines declines.

Speaking to TMC Net, he explained that the VoIP sector has benefited from the global economic crisis, because firms are looking to cut down on external communication costs and are turning to VoIP providers in order to do this.

"Businesses that would in the past purchase IP-PBXs from large manufacturers are now looking at ways to cut costs," Mr Behling said. He added that this "explosive growth path" is expected to continue well into 2010.

Mr Behling also pointed out that government policy towards new technologies should focus primarily on expanding access to more open source technologies because proprietary systems are far too expensive to maintain.

Communications firm AT&T recently said technology companies are increasingly migrating to broadband and IP-based services from public switched telephone networks.