Another class of providers, virtual VoIP carriers (VVCs), provides PC to phone services by deploying soft-switching systems on Internet and media gateways between the Internet and public switched telephone networks. The Ministry of Information Industry has declared that broadband IP telephony service can be legally provided only by traditional service providers, thus VVCs are operating illegally and have little phone-number resources (most subscribers can only make outgoing calls). However, due to intense competition among voice service providers, and VVCs' lower price compared with traditional long-distance calling or IP card services, VVCs are having success.