If the latest news out of Britain is anything to go by - and we are of the opinion that it is - then Internet Protocol phones are gaining traction.

U.K.-based urban wireless Internet and telecommunications service provider On-Communications has launched the new Hosted Voice suite of business class IP telephony services, according to recent reports published by TMC (News - Alert).

The Hosted Voice suite comprises three service offers, company officials say: Communicator, Managed Communicator and Feature Plus. Communicator is a hosted voice system for businesses and organizations with up to 200 people, Managed Communicator "has all the benefits of Communicator," but where On-Communications provides all the end user installation, connections and training as well as the hosted service, company officials said.

Feature Plus is a feature rich entry level service for businesses and organizations with requirements for up to ten handsets.

Another company betting on the future of IP phones is snom technology AG (News - Alert), an IP phones manufacturer.

Snom hit the road in March for a two-month road trip to showcase its latest gear to European resellers, as reported by TMC's contributing editor Deepika Mala. 

The trip, which involves trekking IP phones through nine countries phones, kicked off in Munich on March 23. Trips to Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark will follow.

"On May 4," Mala wrote, "the German company will arrive in the United Kingdom and tour London and Manchester. Representatives of snom say its channel partners, through the road show, will get insight into its product roadmap and future plans."

"'Snom on the road' is a great time for resellers to come along and find out more about us and our innovation in VoIP phones, as well as providing a great opportunity for partners to share their forthcoming VoIP projects," said Michael Knieling (News - Alert), marketing and sales director.