Intel backs VoIP for the masses

Internet telephony company JaJah proposed to take VoIP services to the masses on Thursday, by partnering with chip giant Intel and playing the green card.

Next month Intel will begin the rolling out its Remote Wake technology on new motherboards, and the US chip shop has tapped JaJah to implement the Remote Wake feature into its VoIP infrastructure.

Computers using the Remote Wake feature set will be able to ‘wake up’ from an energy efficient sleep mode and have direct access to JaJah’s IP telephony network, allowing them to make and receive calls.

Although Skype is widely seen as the market leader in terms of VoIP applications, JaJah has made some significant headway of late. Along with Intel, JaJah’s investor roster also includes Deutsche Telekom and the company was recently tapped by Yahoo to provide an internet telephony infrastructure for Yahoo Messenger.

“When the computer was first built, its inventors did not have telephony in mind, nor was it even on the horizon. As communications becomes more ubiquitous, JaJah will continue to collaborate with Intel to improve how telecommunications software and hardware platforms can evolve to continue our leadership in the IP telephony market,” said Trevor Healy, JaJah CEO.

Interestingly, research published by UK communications watchdog Ofcom on Thursday revealed that the number of UK consumers using VoIP services fell from 20 per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in the first quarter of 2008. This suggests that VoIP’s one time advantage in being perceived as a cheaper or even free communications service, has evaporated as mobile and fixed voice providers bundle more minutes with their services.