The Internet Voice Campaign, a consortium of industry leaders seeking to help more consumers take advantage of the power and potential of voice over IP (VoIP), announced its first consumer awareness and education campaign.

This morning, the coalition will take its message to local television news stations across the country to help educate consumers about the benefits of voice services delivered over the Internet.



"While technology early-adopters are increasingly aware of Internet voice, our media outreach will help the public at large better understand the low- cost, feature-rich benefits of voice over IP," said Jim Kohlenberger, executive director of The VON Coalition, the umbrella group for the Internet Voice Campaign. "We hope to mobilize public opinion and educate consumers about the safety, savings and the superior calling quality that comes from using an Internet connection to make voice phone calls to family and friends."

Since the Internet Voice Campaign's launch last fall, several VoIP providers have launched new products, including new softphone clients that combine instant-messaging and voice on a consumer's PC. In addition, reports from industry analysts predict an increase in Internet voice usage over the next several years. By 2010, more than 20 million U.S. households will subscribe to a VoIP-based broadband telephony service, according to JupiterResearch's U.S. Broadband Telephony Forecast released last September.(1)

"We're encouraged by the movement in the industry, but it's important that we continue our efforts to educate consumers that VoIP is a reliable, low-cost alternative to traditional phone service and can serve as a gateway that integrates the Internet, e-mail, instant messaging and voice calling," noted Kohlenberger. "By reaching out to consumers about the benefits of Internet phone calls, instant messaging and other advanced telephone functions, we can encourage more Americans to take full advantage of Internet voice services right now."

Founding members of the Internet Voice Campaign include EarthLink, Google, Level 3 Communications, Pulver.com, Skype, Sonus Networks and USA Datanet. As the public awareness and consumer education arm of The VON Coalition (http://www.von.org), the Internet Voice Campaign's mission is to increase adoption and usage of voice over IP.

Organizations interested in joining the Internet Voice Campaign should e- mail jkohlenberger@cox.net, or call The VON Coalition at 703-237-2357.