Intel dials up software to improve Net phone calls

The chip giant today will announce it has licensed its new software to Internet telephony carrier ITXC to improve its service that allows people to use their computers to make Internet-based phone calls.

ITXC is using the Intel software for a recently created service that allows Internet service providers and communications Web sites to provide Net-based telephony to their customers.

To make calls, consumers simply dial the phone number on their computers and speak through PC microphones. The calls are routed through ITXC's private Internet-based network.

ITXC competes with several other Internet telephony carriers, including iBasis and IDT. ITXC customers include DialPad.com, a rival of Net2Phone, Deltathree.com and others who offer cheap or free long-distance phone calls over the Net.

Intel representatives claim the Internet telephony software, created by Intel Architecture Labs, helps conserve network bandwidth and gives people the same quality as a normal phone call. The software is simple to use and can easily be integrated by Web sites and service providers who offer PC-to-phone services, an Intel representative said.