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Around two million Britons have used computer-to-computer VoIP packages to place calls over the internet in the last 12 months, with the same number of newcomers to the technology expected by this time next year. Such is the conclusion of analysts at Continental Research, whose VoIP poll of 3,000 UK adults found almost 40 per cent spoke online using Skype. Obtained by The Independent, the study rated Microsoft’s MSN Messenger service as the second most popular application, followed a distant third by technology start-up Vonage. Notching up just six per cent of all calls placed, the US firm achieved an equal number of British users as domestic giant BT during the same 12-month period, the survey reportedly claims. Incorporating VoIP capability into its most visible broadband deals, Consumer ISP of the Year, Wanadoo, achieved around 2 per cent of all online calls. Reflecting on the findings, analysts at Continental Research said Skype’s early lead in the field had clearly benefited the London-run company. But warnings were sounded to the dominant telecoms provider BT, which was told, it “might be a case of compete, or lose” market share in its fixed line business. The research coincides with a $600,000 (£344,000) investment to develop a geographically distributed, secure test bed to analyse vulnerabilities in VoIP. Led by the University of North Texas, the seminal project will help investigate voice spam prevention, network attacks including DDos, quality of services and emergency services access. The security audit, which will boost VoIP user rates in the long-term, will also be used to discover security holes arising from operating VoIP with conventional phone networks. Unveiled by the National Science Foundation, the three-year project seeks to assess the technology’s vulnerabilities and establish solutions before the “damage is done.” “VoIP security requires immediate attention, and this research addresses a number of critical aspects needed to help prevent imminent threats,” added Rita Virginia Rodriguez, who will oversee the project. She believes the work will have immediate and long-term impact for the technology, while it will also provide students at three universities with real-life telecommunications experience. US government agencies and leading telecoms companies including AT&T are aggressively deploying the maturing technology, and one study predicts some 24 million US households will be using VoIP by 2008. Apr 10, 2006 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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