NGN operator Interoute has launched a new hosted offering, called the Interoute clearinghouse service, that would allow enterprises to connect their own deployed Live Communications Server (LCS) and Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 systems to those rolled out by other organisations.

Interoute's VoIP Service product manager Mark Senior said that they could go through firms IP PBXes, "but with our system you don't need a PBX".

To enable the new service, Interoute is using network comms provider Covergence's new Eclipse session border controller (SBC), a device which controls the signalling and direction of the applications streams used by the service.

Currently Interoute has 25 firms trialling the service in Europe with three from the UK and businesses signing up for the Interoute service will get free video and voice calls together with free instant messaging and associated presence information to other firms with LCS/OCS deployments. Senior said " You're looking at a 30 percent saving if you're using Skype."