Watchdog sinks teeth into VoIP

Ofcom has announced it will regulate all voice over IP services from this summer.

The watchdog has now mandated that, from June this year, all VoIP providers will have to open up to consumers to help them make an informed decision on which internet calling package to pick.

Among the details VoIP vendors will have to cough up are whether they offer emergency services calls; what number portability they offer; whether they provide services such as directory enquiries; and how much the VoIP system is dependent on the user's home power supply.

If vendors are selling systems that don't offer connections to emergency services or which rely on a user's home power, the new regulation will ask them to flag it up to potential customers.

Users will be asked to agree they are aware of the issues when they sign up to the service, while vendors will have to add a label to the system - either physically or by information on the computer screen, to remind users of the system's capabilities.

VoIP companies will also need to remind users there is no emergency services capability by means of a recorded message should they try to ring 999.

Ofcom will consult later on this year over whether emergency services connectivity should be mandatory for those offering VoIP services.