SBC jumps into the residential VoIP pool

SBC Communications will be entering the residential voice-over-IP market early next year after completing tests currently underway in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and its hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

SBC becomes the third regional Bell operating company to enter the space after Qwest launched last year and Verizon launched earlier this year.

The full-scale VoIP service rollout will take place in early 2005. The service will use IP technology and a DSL Internet connection to deliver voice calling and enhanced features, such as a Web-based portal and advanced call-management capabilities.

SBC anticipates that over time, VoIP will become the preferred voice service because of the features and benefits it enables.

The SBC VoIP Web portal will help consumers manage features such as "find me" and enhanced "do not disturb," which gives customers the ability to specify which numbers they will accept calls from. It also will have a click-to-call capability that lets customers call friends and family with the click of a mouse, as well as voice mail, call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID and three-way calling.

Last month, SBC companies announced the acceleration of Project Lightspeed, an initiative to build a fiber optic-based network within two to three years that will use IP technology to deliver digital TV, VoIP and super high- speed broadband services.

In September, SBC won contracts for several large-business VoIP deployments, including a deal for 50,000 Ford employees located in 110 different facilities.

Citing a more favorable regulatory environment created by recent FCC decisions including the ruled designating VoIP as an interstate service, which reduces the potential for state-by-state regulations, SBC said it is accelerating its investment to bring new technologies to the market.