Voice over Internet protocol, referred to as “VoIP” has truly revolutionised the way people and businesses communicate: talking to each other is cheaper if not free, families can see each other through video-conferencing even when separated by thousands of kilometers, games become more interactive and Web 2.0 social networks switch from the virtual arena to real life. Many of these VoIP capabilities rely on software in combination with a user’s Internet...

Ensuring that consumers and businesses can continue to use the Internet to access lawful VoIP applications and services and devices is essential to promote choice, innovation and competition. VON Europe believes that a crucial challenge ofor policy makers will be to continue to facilitate innovation by companies who are developing new applications and services, including VoIP, delivered via the Internet. Policy makers should ensure that consumers and businesses...

Phone numbers, mobile Vs fixed, geographic Vs non-geographic…most national numbering plans, devised more than 30 years ago, are unlikely to be adequate to cope with new trends and developments. Location information of geographic numbers is a legacy from the Plain Old Telephony Services, when habits were not what they are today. In recent years, people have become more flexible, ready and wanting to move and travel at any time. Mobile phones are slowly...