VoIP phones 'make calling home cheaper' from Cricket World Cup

As the 2011 Cricket World Cup enters the quarter-final stage, VoIP phones could offer a cheaper way for Barmy Army members to call home.

Between March 23rd and April 2nd, eight teams are due to be whittled down to two, before this year's winner is crowned in Mumbai.

For Britons attending any of the matches - including England's quarter-final against Sri Lanka on March 26th - VoIP phones are one way to keep in touch with friends and family back home.

VoIPMadeEasy, a provider of information about the benefits of switching to IP telephony solutions, says the fact that the phones use the internet to carry voice data means call rates are typically much cheaper than a conventional international conversation.

"Because of VoIP technology's utilisation of the internet, it is able to offer a service that is versatile, flexible, but most importantly cost-effective," the company explains.

Meanwhile, it stresses that only the person making the outbound call needs to have a VoIP phone - the recipient can be on a regular landline or mobile.