NTT Com, Sony and Nifty Jointly Launch VoIP
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| NTT Communications (NTT Com), Sony Communications Network Corp, a unit of Sony Corp, and Nifty, a Fujitsu Ltd subsidiary and Japan's biggest ISP, jointly launched a trial Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service in Japan nationwide in December. IP telephony uses packet-based networks, which are substantially cheaper to build than conventional circuit-switched phone networks, resulting in lower phone rates. The IP telephony market is expected to grow rapidly. NTT Com launched its version of the trial, branded "OCN Phone," on December 20. The service, which enables subscribers to call each other and fixed-line phones, will last until the end of February. As part of the joint trial, the three ISPs' users could call each other for free during the month of January. NTT Com is enthusiastic about developing a market for IP telephony services. According to Vice President Mitsuhiro Takase, "With the phone market bound to decrease, we have been waiting for the right time to shift toward IP services." NTT Com expects to launch a fully commercial VoIP service in March. |