VeriSign nears new Net phone deals

This seems like a big deal in VOIP-land…

The service providers, seven in the United States and three in Europe, are “very close” to using VeriSign’s behemoth signaling network to ensure that subscribers’ calls reach those using traditional home, office or cell phones, VeriSign Vice President Tom Kershaw said Monday.

There are only a handful of network operators, including Level 3 Communications, AT&T and others, with the infrastructure to offer such a service. Seeing an opportunity for its own network, VeriSign began wooing Internet phone operators four months ago.

“Now (Net phone service providers) can use and abuse us,” a VeriSign spokeswoman adds. [News.com]