VoIP News: December 2007

The UK is set to get its first commercial wireless broadband service in an initiative planning to cover the Milton Keynes area. Using WiMax technology, the service will reportedly bring broadband connectivity into places where it has not been able to spread through wires. "We have had great success with our trials of WiMax in the Milton Keynes area," said Mike Read, chief executive at wireless broadband provider Freedom4.

A number of measures have been approved by European regulators which are aimed at harmonising VoIP standards and services across the union. The European Regulators Group agreed a 'common position' on the regulation of IP telephony which should eventually see users tapping into their service using the same number across the 27 member nations. Roberto Viola, chairman of the European Regulators Group, said: "Our network of regulators will continue to set the pace in driving more effective regulation in Europe.

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More VoIP services are beginning to offer solutions which can make use of traditional landlines as well as internet voice calls, an analyst has highlighted. Tech news writer Iain Thompson examined the business benefits of these converged services in an article for IT Week. "We are increasingly seeing telephones that can make calls in the traditional fashion when needed, but also use the internet when it's cheaper or more convenient," he said.