IRVINE, Calif., May 30, 2000 (PRIMEZONE) -- (www.ibchannel.com) IBC reported today that Visitalk.com has announced it is teaming with Affinity Internet to expand its free voice and video over the Internet service from the US and into Europe. Plans also call for the service to expand globally later this year.
Ted Lelakas, a spokesperson for Visitalk.com, said that the firm's service is one step ahead of voice over IP (VoIP). "We see VoIP as a very good idea, but one that's incomplete," he said, adding that, only by offering free video and voice communication over the Web can you have total convergence of media. Lelekas went on to say that Visitalk.com primarily offers PC-to-PC communication over the Internet, which makes it "ideal" for office workers and students, as well as mobile or home workers.
Visitalk's gameplan, he said, is to expand the voice and video over IP service beyond the PC in the future, eventually allowing the service to run across wireless devices, Internet appliances and set-top boxes. Plans also call for the Visitalk.com service to remain free for the foreseeable future, just as it is at present. Currently, he said, the service is funded by advertising, but the possibility of adding paid-for value-added services is likely in the future.
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