VoIP News: December 2008

Consumers are using mobilebroadband networks at increasing rates - and the technology just can't keep up, according to a provider. Niall Murphy, cofounder and chief strategy officer of The Cloud, told the Westminster eForum keynote seminar on next-generation broadband that the year-on-year industry average for broadband consumption per device is "six fold per capita". "There's huge growth in capacity consumption in mobile networks which far outstrips the inherent ability of existing wireless broadband technologies to service it," he explained.

Britons would sooner give up eating healthily than lose their broadband connection, new research has shown. A survey conducted by BT found that broadband topped the list of things people would refuse to give up even as they found their budget constricting. Some 57 per cent cited their internet connection, with 43 per cent saying they couldn't go without fresh fruit and vegetables.

Mobilebroadband-ready laptops are proving popular with consumers, despite a recent report that they would not be, according to a comparison website. Top 10 Broadband cited figures from mobile operators Orange and Vodafone which showed that deals with the laptops were outselling dongle packages by three to two. Disruptive Analysis had predicted earlier in the month that dongles would continue to be the device of choice for people using broadband on the move, with "practical and business-model limitations" cited as reasons for their poor early growth.

Britons are still signing up to broadband packages despite the economic downturn, a new report has revealed. Point Topic's report for the third quarter of the year revealed that UK connections rose by 1. 9 per cent to reach just over 17 million, up from 16.

Consumers looking to save on phone bills this Christmas should pick VoIP - but they should make sure they select the right VoIP provider, an expert has claimed. Michael Phillips, product director at BroadbandChoices. co.