The mobile evolution has encouraged us as a society to adapt to a mobile environment wherever we can. It only makes sense; mobile devices are not only convenient, but also provide a variety of benefits to enhance everyday life.

The majority of mobile users utilize their devices for personal reasons, but now more and more companies are providing their employees with mobile devices to allow them access to their work email, databases, documents, etc. at anytime from any location.  

Even office commodities like VoIP are beginning to transition to mobile. Mobile VoIP is the practical next step for enterprises and small to medium-sized business (SMB) alike to move towards enterprise mobility and a mobile workforce.

Mobile VoIP is an extension of VoIP that allows IP-based calls to be made from the convenience of a mobile handset. Mobile VoIP has become a popular and less expensive solution and with solid growth rates in place, the pace doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, a recent In Stat report states that by 2015, mobile VoIP users will have grown to nearly 83 million lines/seats.

Senior analyst, Amy Cravens noted that there are several reasons why mobile VoIP adoption makes sense.  “Some of these include the ability to take the desktop phone experience with you, the ability to utilize the benefits of IP-based communication features, a cheaper international long-distance cost, an easy implementation path, and better indoor coverage where cellphone reception has historically been poor,” Cravens said.  

According to In Stat, voice traffic travels over the available broadband connection, whether that connection is 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi, or GPRS.  Like fixed VoIP, mobile VoIP is being adopted in both the consumer and business segments, but has only recently begun to be implemented in the business environment.

The In-Stat (News - Alert) research, The Business of Mobile VoIP: IP Voice Communications in the Enterprise, investigates the emerging market for business mobile VoIP offerings. The report explores how business mobile VoIP users will increase tenfold over the next five years, why IP PBX (News - Alert) users will account for the majority of business mobile VoIP usage and how mobile operators are increasingly embracing mobile VoIP as they realize that demand for these offerings is not subsiding.

Stefanie Mosca is a Web editor for TMCnet. Previously she worked as a freelance copy editor for Digital Surgeons LLC. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Chris DiMarco