WebProNews

Some say that Google is getting ready to launch a free internet telephone service in the UK.

Times Online: "The company behind the US-based internet search engine looks set to launch a free telephone service that links users via a broadband internet connection using a headset and home computer.

The technology that will enable Google to move in on the market has been around for some time. Software by the London-based company, Skype, has been downloaded nearly 54 million times around the world but no large telecommunication firms have properly exploited it."

Others tend to disagree.

SearchEngineWatch: "The Times is going out on a very shaky branch with speculation of a phone service based on one single job advertisement."

PC Pro: "Google has dismissed as 'pure speculation' a report in The Times today that it is going into the free phone call business. The speculation has been fuelled by a job ad on the Google web site seeking a 'strategic negotiator' to buy up 'dark' i.e. unused cable, in order to create a world-wide backbone network."

Andy Beal is an internet marketing consultant and considered one of the world's most respected and interactive search engine marketing experts. Andy has worked with many Fortune 1000 companies such as Motorola, CitiFinancial, Lowes, Alaska Air, DeWALT, NBC and Experian.

You can read his internet marketing blog at Marketing Pilgrim and reach him at andy.beal@gmail.com.