AT&T Gets VoIP Help from Broadcom

Broadcom Corp. said Tuesday that it will participate in AT&T Corp.’s “VoIP Innovation and Interoperability Program,” aimed at enabling manufacturers to build voice-over-Internet-protocol consumer- and business-electronics products compatible with AT&T's VoIP-network services.

The chip-maker said that as a charter member of the program, it will work with AT&T to develop VoIP software and chip sets that can be used in a wide variety of consumer-electronics products, including broadband modems, corded and cordless phones, Wi-Fi phones, set-top boxes, residential gateways, PCs and other consumer communications devices.

AT&T launched its residential VoIP service, “AT&T CallVantage,” earlier this year.

“Broadcom's field-proven VoIP software and silicon technology, coupled with its leadership position in a variety of consumer-electronics markets, will accelerate the availability of products supporting AT&T's CallVantage service," AT&T senior vice president for Internet telephony Cathy Martine said in a prepared statement.

"By working together, we should be able to speed the adoption of this cost-effective technology by making new VoIP-enabled products for businesses and consumers quickly available,” she added.