Babble to Launch “Web Calling” Toolbar - eading UK VoIP provider launches major new service -

Babble.net - Britain’s leading internet telephony service provider – adds to its line of innovative products by launching its “Web Calling” toolbar.

[UKPRwire, Tue Jul 25 2006] Babble.net - Britain’s leading internet telephony service provider – adds to its line of innovative products by launching its “Web Calling” toolbar. The toolbar represents the first major development release from Babble since its re-launch in early March and follows hot on the heels of its ground-breaking new service, FreeB*, launched in early July.

Web Calling introduces a useful, dedicated toolbar to Babble customers. In addition to being used as a regular search-bar, this internet explorer plug-in detects a phone number on the web and allows instant click-to-call from the user’s browser. The plug-in works seamlessly with any SIP client including the free Babble soft-phone and any web content with telephone numbers displayed becomes instantly available to call with a single click of the mouse.

Allan Howes, CEO of Babble.net Group Plc, commented:
“Adding the toolbar is a natural progression for Babble and is the start of a series of releases intended to further promote Babble’s growing popularity. We are delighted that the toolbar is now out in the wild and this demonstrates our company’s commitment to challenging the major foreign operators such as Skype and Yahoo.”

Babble is based on International Standards allowing Babble users to interact with other VoIP services that are also SIP-based for free. Likewise, SIP allows independent hardware devices to be plugged into the internet allowing Babble to introduce a broader range of services in the coming months. Recent new services include 2-way texting direct to Babble users.

Allan Howes, continues:
“Recently, there has been a rush to release new products and services in the VoiP space, with new start-up operations leading the charge. Take-up though, among much savvier tech users, has been slow, as they are always careful to evaluate the functionality, flexibility and cost-savings of new products. We believe our product is now best placed to succeed where others have failed. Simplicity of use is the key to user acceptance of Babble as a communication tool and our numbers speak for themselves.”

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About FreeB

FreeB allows new and existing Babble users to make free phone calls to over 25 countries. Calls are limited to 30 minutes each day. After that the standard low-cost Babble rates apply. To activate the service, customers simply send a one-off text message costing £1.50p to Babble. The initial FreeB campaign will last for three months.

About Babble
Babble is a software application and internet communication service that supports voice over internet (VoIP) calls to landlines, mobiles and other internet-based users. The service provides users with a simple and easy way to communicate from their PC, allowing users to talk, send instant messages (chat) and SMS text messages directly from their desktop. As a software-based application it can be downloaded and used by anyone with a PC and an internet connection, anywhere in the world. Babble has over 100,000 registered users and has been awarded a Silver Award, second to Skype, in the UK’s leading internet magazine WebUser ahead of BT, Yahoo and others, with Babble being voted ‘best value’ overall. For further information, visit www.babble.net.

The Babble™ internet telephony service is provided Babble.net Group plc (OFEX: BABO), a provider of Internet-based communication services and software.

For information about babble, please contact:

Allan Howes (Babble.net Group plc) 020 7101 1200
Jade Mamarbachi / Robert Koh (gth media relations) 020 7153 8035