AOL and Microsoft both announced new Internet phone services on Tuesday.
Time Warner Inc. said its America Online Inc. unit would introduce a new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service called TotalTalk early next month.
Qwest Communications International Inc. and Microsoft Corp. said they will offer Internet phone service to small and medium-sized businesses, starting in 2006.
VoIP allows customers to use their high-speed Internet connection instead of traditional landlines to make telephone calls. AOL said its TotalTalk service may lead to savings of up to 40 percent on monthly bills.
It said it would begin the roll out of the new service on October 4.
The Qwest/Microsoft service will combine Microsoft's Solution for Enhanced VoIP with Qwest's OneFlex services. Qwest and Microsoft expect the service will be available in 2006.
Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited.
NOTE: For more telecom/internet/networking/computer news from the daily media, check out our feature 'Telecom Digest Extra' each day at