Mobile VOIP: The Wave of the Future

In-Stat recently released a report stating that they estimate the number of mobile VOIP users to reach over 139 million by the end of 2014.

“Mobile VoIP is gaining real market presence with usage rates climbing rapidly,” says Amy Cravens, Market Analyst.   “As it becomes further incorporated into other mobile apps, specifically social networking apps, the realm of potential use is expected to broaden.  This has created a great deal of jockeying among mobile VoIP players trying to develop market share and mobile operators trying to determine the best response to this potentially disruptive service offering.”

Some of the research findings include:

• Mobile operators will gradually remove barriers to mobile VoIP usage, however, will remain guarded in how these services are introduced.
• In-Stat’s consumer survey showed that T-Mobile subscribers had the greatest incidence of mobile VoIP usage; nearly twice that of total respondents.
• Total 2014 revenues will be split between the EMEA (39%), Asia/Pacific (32%), North America (21%), and the rest of the world (8%).
• Because mobile VoIP is portable, users can bring the benefits of VoIP with them when traveling abroad and avoid the expensive roaming fees that mobile operators charge.

Recent In-Stat research, Mobile VoIP: Social Networking Integrates IP Voice (#IN1004743MCM), explores the emerging market for mobile VoIP offerings, covering:

• Forecasts of worldwide mobile VoIP subscribers, usage, and revenues segmented by region and associated provider (independent, 3G, WiMAX/LTE).
• Discussion of the broad spectrum of mobile VoIP industry participants including start-ups, online VoIP providers, mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and mobile virtual network enablers (MVNE), and the mobile carriers themselves.
• The breadth of mobile VoIP solutions and analysis of key providers, including Google, Skype, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless, and Vonage.
• Elements impeding and promoting the adoption of mobile VoIP.
• Discussion of underlying markets including smartphone adoption and 3G/4G services.

This research is part of In-Stat’s Mobile Applications & Services service which provides analysis and forecasts of the markets for mobile applications and content, including consumer perspectives, usage models, competitive business models, mobile applications and operating systems (OS).