AT&T is to begin UK trials of a global Voice over IP (VoIP) telework service targeted at multinational companies.

Scheduled for introduction in 2005, the service is designed to allow a business to provide its remote-working employees with advanced calling features in the home through broadband connections.

Proposed features include 'personal conferencing' to allow users to establish impromptu conference calls with up to 10 individuals.

Users will also be offered the option of hearing their messages by phone or PC and forwarding via email, and call logs will allow users to track and monitor their calling habits or move frequently called numbers into their personal phonebook for click-to-dial access.

The trials are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

"Maximising the value of a global IP networking environment and the productivity and mobility it can provide is one of the top priorities of large enterprises today," said Cathy Martine, AT&T's senior vice president for internet telephony, consumer marketing and sales, in a statement.

"If the promise of IP can be harnessed with remotely deployed employees and combined with a robust portfolio of VoIP-enabled networking solutions, it will positively influence a business' return-on-investment model. This in turn should stimulate more demand."