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October 30, 2005
As instant messengers offer voice communication is there need for paid VoIP?
As Internet portals and search engines offer voice calls for free, viability of VoIP services such as Vonage or numerous calling card based phones services is being questioned.
This year's launch of Google talk and improved voice services from MSN allow free PC-to-PC voice communication. MSN and Yahoo are even offering integration with re-chargeable calling card providers such as Net2Phone. Yahoo has started offering Yahoo rechargeable phone card that can used to call PC-to-phone.
Yahoo plans to offer phone-to-PC service soon according to a recent article in Wall Street Journal.
By providing lower rates for international calls particularly from US or Europe to Asia calling cards have gained popularity particularly among Asian consumers.
However as instant messengers integrate voice calling and PC penetration increases in developing countries, phone card companies that currently offer affordable international calling will face extreme pressure in maintaining viability.
Posted by admin at October 30, 2005 05:48 AM