VoIP in China - An Abundance of Hardware and a Battle for Services

I am writing this blog from a hotel in China, on a travel trip. The way this part of the world is advanced in VoIP is amazing. Did you know that Greater China is the world's largest supplier of VoIP products? In fact, Chinese VoIP supply amounts to more than half the global output.

Although estimated to be three years behind the US in the matter, China shines when it comes to reducing the expense on technology. Many people travel to China or import to China to benefit from the relatively very low cost of hardware.

The spread of VoIP services in China is only gradual, as the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) has taken things in hand and is controlling market growth. They are hesitating to open the Chinese market to foreign VoIP services. For instance, Skype had a rough start in China, being blocked by government policies deeming it as threatening; but the situation is better now that Skype is entering into joint venture with an influent provider, Tom Online. The other main service providers in China are China Telecom, China Netcom and China Satcom. This document outlines the VoIP battle in China.

• Reasons for Choosing VoIP
• Common VoIP Hardware Devices
• Choosing Among VoIP Service Providers