As the tentacles of the broadband sector continue to move into every nook and cranny of society today, there are many who believe that broadband telephone services will in due course replace more traditional landline services. The onset of systems such as Skype, perhaps the best-known Internet telephone service, has caught the imagination of many individuals and businesses throughout the world. But could systems such as Skype every really replace traditional landlines?
The beauty of systems such as Skype is the substantial reduction in overheads by funnelling information via the Internet. One problem which has haunted the sector for some time is the quality of voice data, although in reality there have been and continue to be significant improvements made in this particular area. If these improvements continue at the current pace then there is no doubt at some stage the traditional landline-based companies will come under severe pressure to follow suit. The option to significantly reduce the cost of telephone calls, as well as the transfer of data, is proving more and more attractive for telecom operators around the world.
The fact that “Internet phones” can be acquired at your local supermarket, local computer shop and local electronics store has assisted in the rollout and increased popularity of this service. Is the Internet set to take over the world?