By Sharla Sikes
It’s not the first foray into ad-supported IP calling, and it’s certainly far from the last: start-up service The Pudding plans to offer free international calling supported by targeted ads.

 By Sharla Sikes
VoIP has many benefits to both business and private subscribers, but those who work from home can benefit more than most from its use.
In Britain, research done by the Confederation of British Industry revealed that employers that allow workers to telecommute has grown by 46 percent (up to one in two from one […]

By Sharla Sikes
Every time I search for new headlines in the VoIP world, I see more and more countries adopting the low-cost phone option. While VoIP in many locations still struggles against certain hurdles, its market continues to grow.

By Sharla Sikes
The facts and figures vary, but for most of the world’s major markets, VoIP use by individuals and businesses is growing.

By Sharla Sikes
One of VoIP’s drawbacks is the sometimes poor sound quality. Echoes, “blips” or moments where the sound cuts out and background scratchiness are just a few of the complaints.
With my own Vonage service, I’ve noticed an echo only a few times, and not recently. But I don’t log many hours on the phone […]

By Sharla Sikes
VoIP’s greatest lure to business and personal customers alike is its price. Most VoIP providers offer low prices on local and international calling, some with unlimited long distance. The peer-to-peer service Skype provides functions a little bit differently, however, and may be losing the battle for dominance in the VoIP market.
Skype users may […]

By Sharla Sikes
The United Kingdom’s Office of Communications reports that VoIP is slow to gain popularity with the public and is being used mainly by a “niche following.”
Ofcom says only 17 percent of users with broadband access have tried VoIP service, and 14 percent still use it. Most users stick with a combination of tried-and-true […]

By Sharla Sikes
VoIP has been under the gun in regards to its security, but some say that’s not the case.
Security concerns about VoIP networks are exaggerated, according to industry consultants.

By Sharla Sikes
Verizon plans to lure in more business customers with new features beginning next month.
The new features, designed to “increase functionality and add choice,” include Foreign Telephone Number Assignment, or the option to assign a U.S. phone number outside the local calling area. This would allow a customer to choose a phone number in […]

By Sharla SikesLast week’s Skype outage left 220 million of its users temporarily without service, but even after the service was restored, the outage continues to haunt the peer-to-peer VoIP provider.
Yahoo!’s own VoIP service and other VoIP providers enjoyed boosted usage following Skype’s little boo boo.
Beyond that, the outage put a smear on the name […]