Telefónica to offer Voice over IP services to Windows Live customers

Telefónica has been chosen by Microsoft Corp. to provide Voice over IP (VoIP) services to Windows Live Messenger customers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, the United States and Venezuela.

The new services has been trademarked Voype by Telefónica.

Telefónica, which has the largest telecommunications network in Latin America, was chosen from a field of several operators to be Microsoft’s sole provider of Voice over IP (Voype) services in the region.

Voype is a service provided on Windows Live. Telefónica will use Microsoft’s online channels to promote this new service and hopes to generate further revenues in the region by using a package strategy with its Speedy lines (ADSL). With this service, Windows Live customers will be able to make calls directly from their PCs (PSTN-Out) to any fixed or mobile phone in the world without leaving Windows Live.

The service has first been rolled-out in the United States and will soon be available to customers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. During the second phase, Windows Live users will also be able to receive calls on their PC (PSTN-In).