Wireless Carriers Reported to Be Planning Skype Alternative

AT&T, in conjunction with several other telecom companies and wireless carriers worldwide, is working toward launching a Skype competitor, according to a ThinkEquity analyst.According to analyst Anton Wahlman, a group including British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, and NTT Communications will offer a VoIP client that will work on existing 3G networks and, like Skype, enable customers to call other network members for free. Wahlman made his prediction in a research note and acknowledged that he has no confirmation from any of the companies involved, but he said, "We are confident that this is actually happening."

The service, if the report is true, will be launched in 2009, eventually embrace mobile phones, and may carry separate brand names for each carrier.Light Reading, GigaOm