America Online is beta-testing a nationwide VOIP service, due to debut in 2005, according to user posts on Broadband Reports and other message boards. The service is "powered by" Level 3 Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: LVLT), which also offers wholesale residential VOIP services to Skype Technologies SA and other companies.

While consumers help iron out its VOIP offering, AOL, the Internet division of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), is also hiring an executive to become Director of VOIP Products and Services, according to an industry job listing site. That person "will be the primary advocate for the product within AOL and its partners and is ultimately responsible for product delivery."

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Continued here: »www.boardwatch.com/document.asp?doc_id=59176