NEC Corp. said Thursday that it will launch a Web-based phone service in mid-October allowing subscribers to make phone calls to the United States and South Korea from personal computers.

The service will be available to users of the company's Biglobe Internet access service. NEC said it aims to have 300,000 subscribers after the first year.

Not including Internet access charges, the call rate will be set at 10 yen per three minutes and free in the case of computer-to-computer calls, the company said.

Users need a microphone and headphones or speakers attached to their computers to use the service, it added.

There will be a basic monthly charge of 200 yen for the service, but that will be waived during the campaign period through the end of this year, the company said.

NEC added that it will gradually expand the service to include other countries.

Dialpad Japan Inc., a Web-based phone system service provider, will provide NEC with the technology for the new service.