Google tests number porting

Google has begun testing number porting for Google Voice users; now, the voice-over-Internet protocol service is already available to some Beta users, reports Fierce VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

A user can port their current cellphone or landline number to Google and at the time get a new number from their carrier. They can next receive all their calls to their preferred number and have Google Voice forward calls, access visual voicemails and do call transcriptions.

The move is expected to make it easier for Google Voice to go mainstream, as users could adopt the service seamlessly without changing their VOIP number.

The Nepal Telecom Authority is set to provide licenses to more firms to operate VOIP services, states The Himalayan Times.

The moment 25 districts

“We are mulling to issue licenses to Internet service providers if their service has expanded to for the moment 25 districts, covering 1 300 Village Development Committees,” says Bhesh Raj Kanel, NTA chairman.

NTA has licensed four telephone service providers: Nepal Telecom, United Telecom, Spice Nepal and STM Telecom to operate VOIP calls.

Information service

Some VOIP providers have argued that they are not required to pay terminating access charges because VOIP is an information service, to put it more exactly than a communications service.

“For too long, uncertainty over what charges apply to VOIP traffic has served as a wall to the innovations clients want and the lower prices they need,” says Bandwidth.com President John Murdock. “We are delighted to be working with Verizon in reaching a commercial deal that hopefully will serve as a path for the industry and service providers to move forward and better serve clients.”