Retailer moves into Net telephony
- Added:
- Nov 22, 2004
The service, called Wow-Talk, is in effect a white-label version of OnInstant, the internet-based phone network provider which uses Voice over IP (VoIP).
Wow-Talk costs £1.99 a month on a subscription basis, allowing for unlimited PC to PC calls. Customers can also make very cheap PC to mobile and landlines calls anywhere in the world. They can also talk to up to four people at once, leave free voicemails and send free text messages.
Licensees of the technology, like CD Wow, are charged by On Instant to the tune of £1000 per month for 1000 users.
CD Wow's two million customers will get their first month free and credit of around 45p towards PC to landline/mobile calls.
Phil Robinson, co-founder and director CD WOW! said: “We are convinced that our customers will embrace this new service with enthusiasm.”
The service requires a headset or speakers and microphone, or a USB handset or headset. Wow-Talk works on a dial-up connection, but best over broadband given that it is VOIP.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is projected to account for over 12% of all telephony revenues by 2009, according to Juniper Research. Juniper Research reports that by 2009 the global VoIP market will contribute $32 billion to a total worldwide telephony market of $260 billion, or some 12% of revenues. The total market value for services using VoIP is forecast to grow almost ten fold over the next five years.
On Instant has been running since 2001 and is based in the UK and the Dubai Internet City. Its launched its VOIP service in May 2004.
