Voice over IP (VoIP) technology is spreading from the fixed line world to the mobile space, says a new study by In-Stat.
The technology that has revolutionised voice services over the past few years and has brought calling costs down for residential and business customers alike, is expected to soar beyond the $6 billion mark in 2015, says analist Amy Cravens.
“Mobile VoIP has only recently begun being implemented in the business environment. One of the key benefits of mobile VoIP for enterprises is extending desk phone functionality to mobile devices. Business-oriented solutions will essentially enable the users’ cellphones to become an extension of their desk phones and will deliver, in addition to voice, a unified communications experience, including email, IM, and collaboration,” said Cravens.
The study claims business mobile VoIP users will increase tenfold over the next five years, and while mobile operators are currently a barrier to adoption, they could become a significant driver of adoption in the future.
Growth in IP PBX, on which business mobile VoIp is based, will also be driven by mid-sized and enterprise businesses, the study says.