VoIP News: October 2007

Telecoms operators could be told to reduce their charges for using mobile phone services overseas, after the European Commission (EC) launched an investigation into whether the costs are justified. With the cost of mobile phone calls across national borders forced down by the EC earlier this year, but they remain higher than connecting to the web and using voice over internet protocol (VoIP). And now in a further blow to mobile operators, the EC has turned its attention to mobile phone data transfer services.

With Ofcom recently announcing a plan to introduce mobile phone connections on aeroplanes, VoIP users may have hoped this would expand into internet telephony services. But a spokesman for management, engineering and development consultancy Mott Macdonald said that the loss of silence and relative calm on planes would likely put people off using the service. "Instead of: 'I'm on the train' we'll have: 'I'm on the plane'," said Mott Macdonald's director of aviation strategy, Laurence Price.

The 27 different telecoms regulators across the European Union have come together to work for a harmonised set of standards and rules. Issues like emergency calls and crossing national boundaries are set to be addressed by the Euroepan Regulators Group. Chair of the government body, Roberto Viola, said: "Voice over IP has been identified as a key area for harmonisation.

The cost efficiency of using internet-based telephone systems has been highlighted by Cambridgeshire County Council which claims to have saved more than a million pounds. According to reports, the local authority is £1. 2 million richer after installing VoIP technology.

A US furnishing manufacturer who three years ago switched to an internet phone service has spoken of its easy and cost efficiency. Jennifer Tuttle, an owner of Indianapolis-based firm Inhabit, told the IndyStar. com that the news system had been a huge success and saves the company up to $75 (£36) a month in long-distance fees.