Not all small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have the budget or scalability to deploy and maintain an enterprise VoIP solution. However, that doesn’t mean they are out of luck when it comes to attaining a VoIP offering that is right for the size of their company. There are actually a number of small business VoIP solutions out there, particularly as more and more businesses move towards mobility in the workplace.

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.

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.  According to senior analyst Amy Cravens, 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.  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