Wanadoo.fr staff strike over 'buggy' VoIP service

UK roll-out won't be delayed

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Telecoms, 17th December 2004 13:00 GMT

Wanadoo UK has denied that the roll-out of its new internet telephony service will be delayed, after problems with the VoIP service in France.

Almost 300 Wanadoo staff in France went on strike last week in protest at fielding calls from irate customers complaining that the service didn't work.

Staff told bosses that the VoIP service - via Wanadoo's LiveBox system - was riddled with bugs and complained that they hadn't received enough training, Libération reports.

Customers were particularly unimpressed that they had to phone a premium-rate phone line to speak to tech support.

No one at Wanadoo in France was available for comment on the strike action or the failure of its VoIP service.

However, a spokeswoman for Wanadoo UK said that the ISP was carrying out "extensive trials of its VoIP service" which is due to launch early next year. ®