INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Starter kits enabling users to make voice calls over broadband without the need to switch on a computer have been released by high street stores in the UK.

The Freetalk kits have been introduced to Currys, Dixons, The Link and PC World stores in the UK priced at GBP79.99 and are sold with a monthly subscription of GBP6.99, allowing users to make free landline calls within the UK. Cheaper mobile and international call rates will also be available to Freetalk users and around 500,000 users are expected to sign up within the first year of the service's launch.

Up to 11% of broadband users in the UK are expected to have a Voice over IP (VoIP) service by 2007 and a range of services are being offered by Internet service providers, software and telecomms companies. Services such as Freetalk require a broadband connection but include special phone adaptors, negating the requirement for a computer. UK users are able to choose their local area code and when plugged into another broadband connection the kit will keep its phone number, enabling subscribers to use their home phone number abroad.

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