Nasioncom in talks to launch VoIP phone service next month

Malaysian discount call carrier and broadband ISP Nasioncom is in talks with the country’s dominant wireline provider Telekom Malaysia to agree interconnectivity for its new broadband telephony service, due to be launched next month. According to Nasioncom’s CEO, Johnson Khoo, the company is also negotiating similar tie-ups with mobile operators Maxis Communications, Celcom and DiGi. If the launch goes ahead as planned, it will be Malaysia’s first licensed VoIP phone service; the company says it will bundle a handset and a number in its package, which will offer calls up to 50% cheaper than conventional telephony. Nasioncom gained a licence to offer broadband phones ahead of domestic rivals including Redtone.