NetZero Offers Internet Telephony

Internet services provider United Online Inc. has launched a telephony service under its NetZero brand.

The voice over Internet protocol phone service available this week provides computer-to-computer calling at no charge. Premium services include calls to landline phones.

The Woodland Hills, Calif., company is currently offering three-months of its paid service at no charge. Prices range from free to $14.95 a month, which includes phone-to-computer calling in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. International calling starts at two cents a minute.

The service works on any broadband connection.

VoIP calling is growing in popularity as a cheaper alternative to traditional telephone service. Cable operators have started offering the service to compete against telephone companies that are moving toward selling TV subscriptions through broadband.The VoIP market is expected to increase to $23.4 billion in 2009 from $1.2 billion last year, according to Infonetics.