Mobile VoIP is no longer just hype, but has become a credible threat to traditional voice revenues. Considering, that this is only a matter of time when Internet protocol (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.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Impact of Mobile VoIP on Next Generation Cellular Networks, finds that that at the end of 2008, approximately $605.8 million of mobile VoIP revenues were generated in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. This is expected to grow to $29.57 billion by 2015. The technologies covered in this research service are 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).
"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 Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Saverio Romeo. "Mobile operators realise they can no longer ignore the fact that mobile 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 cellular networks and suggest that it will not provide the same quality, efficiency and reliability of services offered by the GSM network," explains Romeo. "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 Romeo. "This will enable them to differentiate their services from mobile VoIP start-ups."
Table Of Contents
Preamble 8-10
Key Findings 11-16
Definition of Mobile VoIP 17-18
Key Participants in Mobile VoIP 19-20
Market Drivers for Mobile VoIP 21-25
Mobile VoIP over Cellular Broadband Technologies 26-34
Status Quo of Mobile VoIP in Europe 35-38
Industry Challenges of Mobile VoIP 39-42. Market Forecasts and Analysis (2007-2017) 43-73
Global Mobile Subscribers and Population Penetration 44
Global Mobile Subscribers by Region 45
Global Mobile Post and Pre-paid Subscribers 46
Global Mobile Postpaid Subscribers by Region 47
Global Mobile Prepaid Subscribers by Region 48
Global Mobile Subscribers by Cellular Technology 49
Global 3G Subscribers by Region 50
Global MVNO Subscribers by Region 51
Global Fixed Subscribers 52
Global Fixed Subscribers by Region 53
Global Voice Revenues – Fixed Voice and Mobile 54
Originating Revenues
Global Voice Revenues by Region 55|
Global Fixed Voice Revenues by Region 56
Global Mobile Originating Call Revenues by Region 57
Global Fixed Voice Traffic Revenues by Destination 58
Global Fixed Domestic Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 59
Global Fixed International Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 60
Global Mobile Voice Traffic Revenues by Post and Pre-paid Subscribers 61
Global Mobile Voice Traffic Revenues by Destination 62, - Global Mobile Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 63|
Global Mobile Postpaid Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 64
Global Mobile Prepaid Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 65
Global Mobile Domestic Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 66
Global Mobile International Voice Traffic Revenues by Region 67
Global Internet Ready Mobile Phones 68|
Global Internet Ready Mobile Phones by Region 69
Global Smartphones by Region 70
Global SIP Enabled Smartphones by Region 71
Global Unique Mobile VoIP Subscribers by Region 72
Global Mobile VoIP Revenues by Region 73
Mobile VoIP Vendor Profiles 74-92
Truphone 76
Vyke 78
Vopium 81
Fring 83
Nimbuzz 85
Skype 87
Webtel.mobi 88
JAJAH 91, Recommendations for Mobile Operators 93-96
Conclusions 97-100
Glossary of Terms 101-104
About Frost & Sullivan 105-109
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The Impact of Mobile VoIP on Next Gen Cellular Networks |
