Google may offer internet calls

Google has described reports that it is about to launch a free telephone service that will link users via a broadband internet connection as "pure speculation".

According to the Times newspaper, a recent job advert by Google sought a "strategic negotiator” to help the company provide a “global backbone network”.

The job would include responsiblity for IP transit services in North America, Europe, Asia, negotiating for collocation deals and sorting out contracts for dark fiber services. The Times report suggests: "the logical use of such a network would be to help to support a new telephone service."

A second article from website Pocket-Lint suggests Google may choose to offer an internet telephony service via the acquisition of an existing company such as provider Skype.

Pocket-Lint says: "the current market leader [Skype] could even be bought by the internet search engine for it to gain an direct market share quickly and effectively in the same way it bough Picasa to enter the photo editing and storage market."

Julian Hewett, chief analyst at consultancy firm Ovum, said: "This [a Google VoIP service] would be an obvious development for the world's leading search engine. Millions have downloaded the "Google toolbar", so why not a VoIP client too? The appeal for Google is obvious: search for something, then "click here" if you'd like to speak to the company that's selling what you're looking for."

"Google then collects a fee from the "sponsor" for each voice connection. Voice calls with very little cost and funded by advertising. What a sweet extension to Google's advertising-driven business model."

A spokeswoman for Google said the reports were "pure speculation" and she was unaware of any imminent move by the search engine into the VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) market.