Research and Markets: This Essential Report on the Impact of Mobile VoIP on Next

Considering that it is only a matter of time before Internet protocol (IP) becomes the principle transport for various access technologies, an ambitious group of mobile VoIP startups are creating a paradigm shift in the way users communicate with each other, with voice services moving to a true Internet era of Telco 2.0. This research service covers the state of the global mobile VoIP market, examining drivers and restraints for growth, technology, legislation, demand and geographical trends. Following from these, market growth for regional and market segments are forecasted. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the profiles of the key vendors in the industry is performed. The base year is 2009 with forecasts running through 2017

This Frost & Sullivan research service titled Impact of Mobile VoIP on Next Generation Cellular Networks analyses the market opportunity for mobile VoIP in Europe with detailed insights of the key drivers and challenges influencing this market growth, along with recommendations. Frost & Sullivan has consulted with the key participants in the mobile and wireless industry to analyse the growth prospects of mobile VoIP and understand the various challenges that need to be addressed by the key participants of the mobile value chain. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following technologies: high-speed packet access (HSPA), third-generation long-term evolution (3G LTE), global system of mobile communications (GSM), IP multimedia subsystem (IMS), HSPA+, general packet radio service (GPRS), voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and session initiation protocol (SIP).

Credible threat to the traditional voice revenues

Mobile VoIP has become a credible threat to the traditional voice revenues. Considering it is only a matter of time before IP becomes the principal transport for various access technologies, an ambitious group of mobile VoIP start-up companies are creating a paradigm shift in the way users communicate with each other, with voice services moving to a true Internet era of Telco 2.0. The emergence of flat rate mobile data pricing, positive growth of smartphone shipments, and high-speed mobile broadband availability has spurred the adoption rate of mobile VoIP, says the analyst of this research. Mobile operators realise they can no longer ignore the fact that mobile VoIP will be a key component of integrated IP-based communications and next generation wireless technologies such as HSPA+ and LTE. Significant traction in the application space, primarily driven by the success of the iPhone, has resulted in several smartphone vendors making provisions in their applications stores for users to download and use third-party VoIP clients over both wireless fidelity (WiFi) and cellular broadband networks.

However, many cellular operators have prohibited the use of mobile VoIP over their cellular networks, with some imposing a surcharge to avoid cannibalisation of their circuit-switched voice revenue streams. Moreover, cellular operators face intense competition from the more popular Web-based VoIP alternatives that are permeating the mass market. Despite user demand for cost-effective services, some mobile operators will continue to discourage mobile subscribers from using VoIP over the cellular networks and suggest that it will not provide the same quality, efficiency and reliability of services offered by the GSM network, explains the analyst. Recent surveys indicate that nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the major European mobile operators prohibit or restrict the usage of VoIP over their popular mobile broadband data plans.

Mobile operators should eventually do away with imposing bans or surcharges to their mobile broadband packages to support mobile VoIP, as the client devices supporting HSPA+ and LTE will be based on open platforms and support SIP for third-party applications. When the operators migrate to an all-IP IMS network, they should drive innovative services such as multimedia telephony, high definition voice, integrating voice with context-based information about the user, and the device from a converged presence-enabled address book, concludes the analyst. This will enable them to differentiate their services from mobile VoIP start-ups.