[January 14, 2004] 50 Percent Of All Internet Households Interested In VoIP Telephone Services One-half of all Internet households are interested in VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) services, which could deprive current long-distance companies of their most profitable subscribers. Interest in these services is disproportionately among subscribers with high monthly phone bills, and cost savings is the primary driver, according to Residential Voice-over-IP: Analysis & Forecasts, a new report from Parks Associates. Furthermore, interest in VoIP service is consistent among both broadband (52%) and narrowband (48%) households. (See Figure 1, attached) "Consumers are looking at VoIP service as a replacement for their primary phone line, not as a secondary backup," said John Barrett, a research analyst at Parks Associates. "VoIP could also serve as a lure for new broadband subscribers, given the strong interest among narrowband households. The market is still searching for a 'killer' broadband application. Wouldn't it be ironic if it turned out to be telephone service?" The survey conducted for Residential Voice-over-IP: Analysis & Forecasts sampled 3,300 households on VoIP services. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]