Level 3 Communications Inc. is launching two new residential VoIP services to more than 300 of the largest markets in the U.S. by the end of 2004, with service availability beginning during the second quarter.
The new services, (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service and HomeTone, will enable cable operators, ISPs, enhanced service providers, IXCs and others to offer IP-based local and long-distance voice service to consumers via any broadband connection to the home. (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service essentially provides building blocks for "do-it-yourself" companies that want to manage their own residential telephone service. HomeTone is a complete turnkey solution for companies that prefer the ease and convenience that a "plug-and-play" service provides. HomeTone also gives providers of consumer VoIP services the ability to offer their own value-added features and applications to meet the
specialized requirements of their end customers.
"The U.S. consumer voice market, which is valued at over $65 billion per year, is on the verge of fundamental change," says Sureel Choksi, president of softswitch services for Level 3. "The growth of residential broadband access, coupled with the increasing adoption of VoIP technology, is allowing a wide variety of companies to pursue the consumer voice market. We believe Level 3, with its extensive softswitch platform and local network infrastructure, is in a strong position to capitalize on this trend via these new complementary offerings.”
