VoIP Picking up in Central and Eastern Europe

The era of VoIP telephony is beginning in Central and Eastern Europe. According to a new IDC study of 11 CEE country markets (not including Russia), compared to 2004, the number of VoIP minutes will more than quintuple this year and more than triple in 2006. Meanwhile spending will more than double this year and grow by 80% in 2006. Still a relatively small part of the overall telephony market, VoIP will eventually become the technology of choice for businesses and consumers looking to cut their monthly phone bills. Nevertheless, total spending will slow after a couple boom years, as VoIP will be increasingly bundled with broadband-based service packages.