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22/03/2005
The UK’s Internet Telephony Services Provider’s Association (ITSPA) yesterday launched a Code of Practice to improve residential customer awareness and confidence in the fledgling VoIP industry. A version for business customers will be published shortly.
Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VoIP or IP telephony, is basically the transport of telephone calls over an internet connection. Until recently, it was a niche phenomenon, but VoIP now has hit the mainstream consumer and business markets, offering cheaper calls and disrupting the dominance of the traditional communications companies.
ITSPA, which counts Call UK, Intervivo, Mistral Internet and Telco Global among its founding members, is keen to help customers in finding a reputable VoIP provider among the bewildering array of Internet Telephony Service Providers (or ITSPs) in the UK. It has therefore published a Code of Practice targeting the needs of residential customers.
ITSPA members complying with the Code will have the right to display the ITSPA logo on their web site. ITSPA hopes that consumers will come to recognise the logo as a badge of excellence for VoIP providers, giving them the confidence to try VoIP services from its members.
"This is a world first, and vital to ensure the rapid uptake by the mass-market of this new generation of services,” said Eli Katz, XConnect and ITSPA Council member. “We believe that this is a 'Fair CoP'; and we intend, as ITSPA, to act efficiently in administering and enforcing it".
The DTI and Ofcom have welcomed ITSPA's initiative. Claire Hobson, Head of Telecoms Policy at the DTI, said, "ITSPA's launch is a good step towards putting the interests of consumers at the forefront of the Voice-over Internet Protocol industry. We'll certainly be working closely with the new Association in our work to encourage the development of VoIP in the UK".
Click here to download Code of practice
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