Bahrain is to host its first annual digital voice forum tonight at the Gulf Hotel.

The event, being hosted by Ascentech Telecom, will discuss and bring to light advantages, cost savings, and flexibility associated with 'Cloud VoIP' services, the latest in the world of telecommunication technologies.

'The event is one of several aiming at enhancing the role of Bahrain in the information technology and telecom industry, as well as educating Bahraini executives on incorporating modern concepts in their IT infrastructure,' said Ascentech Telecom founder and managing director Hamad Abdulaal Al Fahad.

'With the high availability of Internet bandwidth to businesses and individuals in Bahrain, the idea of a triple play, or using your Internet for all your communication needs is becoming a practical and logical reality,' he said.

'The forum will discuss a fresh concept in telecommunication, Cloud VoIP. It is the idea that any company, of any size, can control every aspect of their phone system from anywhere in the world, communicate across borders seamlessly, bring great flexibility to their communications system and significantly reduce communication costs.

'It goes by the concept that the telephone system is the gateway of any business, and efficiencies within their telecommunications infrastructure will have direct effects on daily operations.'

He said according to market studies, Bahraini companies' adoption of digital voice is below three per cent, as compared with 55 per cent in the US.

Guests at the event, which begins at 7pm, include government officials, telecom executives, heads of IT companies, representatives from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as well as leading businessmen in Bahrain.-TradeArabia News Service