| VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, is | | | | introducing VoIP technology as a choice or addition |
| considered a growth market for 2009 and | | | | for new telephone subscribers. This has led to the |
| beyond. The very recent technology has grown | | | | pure VoIP services like Skype and Vonage take a |
| exponentially and according to a report in 2008, | | | | tumble in the market share. Whereas initially, they |
| 50% of the world's telecom traffic is over the | | | | had a 75% total share in the industry, this has |
| Internet. Furthermore sales from the VoIP | | | | now reversed to approximately a 25% share. |
| equipment alone topped the $3 million mark. | | | | Users are no longer tied to their computer. Phone |
| Needless to say the place of VoIP within the | | | | calls can be made in the traditional manner using |
| telecom industry is well and truthfully secure with | | | | VoIP without the need to log on. |
| a forecast of 135 million subscribers by 2011. | | | | As with all new technologies the tale-tell signs of a |
| Competition for this market share is now almost | | | | market changing forever are in place, and it won't |
| inevitably frantic and the top six most powerful | | | | be long before this system will completely |
| leaders are: | | | | dominate the old technology. Almost every home |
| • Charter Communications (Cable Company) | | | | in the world has a regular line installed. The cable |
| • Cablevision (Cable Company) | | | | and internet services providers have the ability |
| • Time Warner Cable, Inc (Cable Company) | | | | now to disconnect these and install an internet |
| • Comcast (Cable Company) | | | | phone line via web. By utilizing special hardware |
| • Skype (Pure VoIP) | | | | with battery backup and offering new 911 |
| • Vonage (Pure VoIP) | | | | services, the Cable companies have overcome |
| It can be seen in America at least that the cable | | | | specific limitations that, up to now, have hindered |
| Companies have integrated VoIP within their total | | | | progress within this niche. Within just a few years, |
| package and it is evident that here in the UK the | | | | the world phone network is almost fully integrated |
| traditional telecom Companies such as BT are | | | | into the Internet. |