Eircom to launch VoIP in 2005

The Irish telecoms incumbent is expected to launch its VoIP (voice over internet protocol) service in early 2005, with the initial roll out targeted at large corporations that already have significant communications networks to ferry data between offices throughout the nation. A version of the technology aimed at smaller businesses, as well as a service targeted at consumers, will be launched later in the year. The products -- including the consumer and small business services -- will allow Eircom customers to make telephone calls at dramatically lower prices than is possible using a traditional telephone service. The lower prices are possible because VoIP services route calls over networks designed for IP (the Internet Protocol) rather than over Eircom's traditional network.