He said, "Please don't forget people's interests. People are more powerful than businesses."

"So, when you design your business strategy, please consider the mass people's interests. Information technology is not only for some special persons of the society. Every person has the right to have access to it," Yunus said addressing the launching ceremony of a VoIP application platform in Bangladesh by a US company named BroadSoft Inc.

The US-based BroadSoft has announced that its BroadWorks VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions including hosted PBX, business Trunking, mobile PBX and call center will be distributed to enterprises and residential customers throughout the country by another US company UTC Associates. The UTC Associates will act as a reseller and systems integrator for the BroadWorks VoIP application platform in Bangladesh.

BroadSoft creates VoIP application software that lets fixed and mobile service providers offer the most advanced calling features to their enterprise and residential customers.

UTC Associates, Inc (UTC) is a leading systems and network integration company that focuses on all key aspects of complex network planning, design, testing and implementation. The company has strong ties with Bangladesh, where it operates a state-of-the -art R & D facility and development center through its subsidiary, Vonair Inc.

Muhammad Yunus said at last, the VoIP has been opened up. With the opening of VoIP, it is also unveiled an opportunity for the Bangladeshis to get more access to information technology.

He said, "VoIP is a technology, which can really change everything in interconnecting each other. It will sharply reduce the communication costs of people".

Yunus, however, said, "The decision of opening up VoIP is not enough to reap benefits from it. I hope the government has opened VoIP from their truly open point of view so that everyone can be benefited from it".

Citing an example of reaping benefit of web conferencing, he said without knowing much more about IT any person can easily communicate with few others staying from one point.

"You don't need passport to go out to the world communication hub. It has no border or distance barrier. So information technology like VoIP will be better and will really change the world at every level of communication".

About the connectivity submarine cable, another tool of information communication, Yunus said, "Unfortunately, experiences gathered from the submarine cable so far are not very good. To get benefits from such information application, we need strong foundation at first."

"BroadSoft is committed to being a catalyst for improving the communications infrastructure in Bangladesh and prompting further investment and advancement of technology in this emerging market," said Michael Tessler, BroadSoft president and chief executive officer, at the function held at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

"We believe BroadWorks can help eliminate the global digital divide and assist the people of this great country in pursuing business and education opportunities," he hopes.

BroadWorks is an ideal voice solution for the hilly, rural and urban regions of Bangladesh, where telecommunication services can be spotty and wire lines may not be available, he added.

"Voice applications that are brought to Bangladesh by a world-class company like BroadSoft are good for the economic development of all industries in this emerging gem of Asia from software to telecom infrastructure," said UTC Associates President and CEO Aziz Ahmad.

"While making its VoIP products available for the more than 9 million cellular subscribers, BroadSoft also will help the country's communications system leapfrog to the most advanced communications technology, enabling the businesses and professionals to be more productive," he hopes.

Mir Nasir Hossain, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers and Commerce and Industry, Prof Aminul Hoque, president of Bangladesh Computer Society, Ken Rokoff, vice president (International Sales) of BroadSoft, and stakeholders from different local IT firms were present at the function.