[Andrea]

Are telecommunication companies being affected by the rise of VOIP such as Skype and YM Voice? Many internet users have shifted to using VOIP instead of the regular telephone line. First of all, it's cheaper and secondly, you can have more access like the webcam rather than simply listening to a person's voice. Does this decrease revenue for telecoms? Most telecoms also offer internet services but this does not guarantee revenue since internet services have a flat rate. I have tried using Skype and encountered technical difficulties. I still prefer using the traditional telephone line. The tendency is new technology replaces the old or traditional means. We often hear the word "obsolete" when referring to things no longer used due to new technology. Other business go down because new businesses come up. It's how the economy goes.