BlackBerry on verge of signing UAE VoIP deal

The use of VoIP technology has started to revolutionize the telecom marketplace. Cheaper calls, both domestic and international, are making it easier for companies to communicate with customers, vendors and others. Now, one of the biggest markets in the world is about to upgrade to the internet-based solution.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is on the verge of signing an agreement with BlackBerry Limited, that will allow the handset manufacturer to offer VoIP services for the first time in that country. This would be a big news in both the VoIP and mobile device marketplace.

A recent Zacks Investment Research report highlights the deal and what the ramifications might be.

"Voice calls are generally charged based on the length of the call and the country receiving the call," reads the report. "However, VoIP calls are offered almost for free once customers have purchased a data plan from a telecom carrier. VoIP is a serious threat to traditional voice calls and according to research firm Ovum the Internet-based service will hurt the telecom industry with $479 billion in lost revenues by 2020."

For BlackBerry, this could be the shot in the arm that the company needs. After years of being on top of the mobile device marketplace, Apple and Samsung have taken leaps and bounds to move past them since 2007. Last month the company released its latest hardware and operating system to mixed reviews and the outlook was bleak. This signing, however, would put BlackBerry into a rich community that currently bans the use of Skype and FaceTime.

The high consumer demand for cheaper calls and more options are behind the rising need for VoIP in the UAE. This goes to show how important Voice-over IP technology is becoming and an experienced IT consultant can help any company implement this system.

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