Voice over Net coming in loud, clear.

New low-cost telecom options on the way as providers accelerate investments in VOIP technologies. Until recently, technologically savvy Web jockeys in search of free long-distance calls were about the only ones willing to tune into the idea of using IP networks for voice communications. Most corporate IT managers, concerned about unpredictable service levels and poor call quality for voice on packet-based IP networks, were satisfied to keep VOIP technologies on hold. Major networking equipment vendors, such as Cisco Systems Inc. and Lucent Technologies Inc., have, in recent months, begun to roll out new generations of products that will allow IP-borne voice packets to be integrated and managed right along with data traffic. At the same time, long-distance service providers such as Qwest Communications International Inc. and Frontier Corp. have followed IP pioneers such as Level 3 Communications Inc., building upon those nascent technologies to launch ambitious new IP backbones that, as early as the end of this year, will begin to support converged voice and data services over a single network. For corporate IT managers, that could mean lower telecommunications costs and, just as important, more easily managed networking bandwidth. As a result, for corporate customers the message is beginning to come across loud and clear: Voice over IP is becoming a reality.