Melbourne-based ISP, Pacific Internet, has launched an SMB-focused business-grade VoIP service on conjunction with long-term partner, Nextep Broadband.

Pacific Internet managing director, Dennis Muscat, said the concept of an SMB VoIP service had been on the table for about six months.

"We asked ourselves how we could enter the VoIP market in a meaningful way," he said. "We went through an evaluation process with several providers."

Nextep Broadband, a division of NEC Australia, has worked with Pacific Internet for the past five years, providing its premium-grade DSL services.

Two services will be rolled out under the new Vocal brand name; Express and Professional.

Express Vocal will be sold as an add-on service to an existing phone system at $25 per month including $25 of calls. Local calls will cost 10c, national calls 9c per minute and fixed to mobile 27c per minute. As an add-on service, it doesn't include an incoming phone number.

Express Professional is designed to replace PSTN systems and is priced at $30 per month with $15 of calls for Pacific Internet customers. Local calls cost 10c, national calls 10c and fixed to mobile 25c per minute.

While the services will be offered online, Muscat expected the majority of sales to come via Pacific Internet's 300 channel partners.

"They have the closest relationship with SMBs and are the trusted partners of those businesses," he said.