Microsoft smartphone to feature VoIP?

Microsoft may be about to launch VoIP services on its latest smartphone, an expert has claimed, after developers reportedly spotted a reference to the telephony technology in the device's registry.

In an article for The Next Web, Alex Wilhelm said an update rumoured for February could contain VoIP functionality.

The contents of the scheduled January update are well known, he said - adding wireless access and copy and paste - but those of the one the following month are currently unnamed.

Because of these registry discoveries, the Chicago-based blogger commented, "we are casting our lots that the to-be-released features centre around adding VoIP and visual voicemail to the phone line".

He added these additional features will give the Windows Phone 7 a boost in the smartphone market.

Heather McLean, editor of trade publication Mobile Business, recently stated people increasingly want to use the same device for accessing social media as they do for using VoIP services to enable them to join the mobile data "craze".