Now that many mobile phones - particularly those on the 3G networks are able to connect directly to the internet for data transfer and the like, more and more people are looking at different ways in which this new technology can be harnessed in order to offer more services and bring down the overall cost of mobile phone use in the UK.

With data prices falling considerably in recent years and the cost of calls remaining relatively static, one thing that many users have considered is the ability to make calls using the internet as they do at home with services like SkyPe. Until quite recently there has been a technological hurdle in getting a regular mobile phone set up to make VOIP calls, but the latest models offer this service as standard with the ability to switch from a regular network through to the local wireless network, or even through their existing internet connection.

Three was the first major UK network to promote the use of VOIP through their mobile phones with a tie up to SkyPe. The service is offered on their 3X series phones and product plans, which also provide a great number of other internet based services through the phone.

The idea of getting free unlimited calls through your mobile phone is a very attractive one for users, as normally, international calls can cost anywhere up to £1 per minute, so for a business that makes a lot of overseas communications, it could offer enormous monthly savings.

There have been criticisms of the quality of the service offered by many VOIP companies, but as long as the network strength is good, there is no reason why VOIP should not offer the same clarity as regular phone calls mad through the network.

One aspect of VOIP that is particularly unattractive from the point of view of the service provider is that it can potentially strip out a large proportion of their revenue sources. If users spend less money directly with them, it will have a negative effect on their business, and some networks such as Vodafone have disabled the function on any handsets sold through their shops, although it is possible to get around this ban by purchasing a phone from another network and having it unblocked. Then using the internet to access a SkyPe function and making the call online.

One thing is for certain, in the same way as VOIP has stolen an enormous market share from the fixed line market whether users realise it or not, it will soon take a big slice out of the mobile network, and allow users greater flexibility in terms of the price that they pay to phone people using their mobile phones. Over the next couple of years as the technology matures, the price of handsets that are compatible with VOIP will fall considerably, and open the service up to more and more people. This is likely to be a very good thing for consumers and lead to a large reduction in price for users.