According to a new survey released today by IP multimedia processing solutions provider Global IP Solutions, U.S. mobile operators and equipment vendors are encouraging the shift toward real-time video.

 

This comes as no big surprise as real time video is expected to become more mainstream in the U.S. market over the next few years.

 

The survey, which was conducted by the global advisory and consulting firm Ovum, poised questions to top U.S. mobile operators, smaller/regional wireless carriers and mobile application developers. 

 

According to the study, more than half of the U.S. wireless operators interviewed are planning to introduce, or increase access to, real-time video services over the next 2 years.

 

To help gain a competitive edge, small operators are offering more Internet access and are looking into adding flexible IP communication applications from third parties.

 

The study also found that close to 50 percent of operators surveyed are excited about providing “open platforms” for third party software developers.

 

Mark Radoff of Ovum (News - Alert) commented on the study’s findings, “Real-time video is coming to the forefront for mobile operators, as many respondents stated significant video activity is in the pipeline for the next two years. 

 

Radoff pointed out that both small and large operators are eager to roll out real-time video services and find new ways to make money. Operators must also figure out how to make their services stand out from their competitors’ and increase ARPU.

 

Currently, the only service provider to launch a video conferencing service is AT&T (News - Alert) Wireless, but most carriers claim the service is coming. 

 

According to the study, operators introducing video conferencing applications are likely to provide new revenue opportunities for software vendors. Although operators are gaining confidence in their networks, survey respondents revealed that optimization still remains an issue. Other things that need to be worked with real time video include usable applications and integration with social networks.

 

More than half of the respondents showed an interest in open platforms, whereby software vendors can launch real-time video applications on an operator-approved handset.

 

“Most US mobile operators are running what is classified as a 3G network or 3.5G or equivalent network, able to ensure high quality VOIP and video-based services.  Now, with 4G and sophisticated Imax networks beginning to emerge, there are fewer barriers to offering quality, real-time video and VoIP on mobile phones and networks,” said Emerick Woods, Global IP Solutions’ (News - Alert) CEO.

 

“This study confirms Global IP Solutions’ belief in the accelerating movement toward mobile video adoption and validates the activities from mobile operators and device manufacturers in making it a reality in the next few years,” added Woods.

 

Last week, GIPS announced plans to demonstrate the power and growing adoption of mobile IP communications with its customers. The demonstrations include a real-time mobile video application from Movial, a provider of unified communications (UC) products, allowing users to conduct high-quality Mobile video calls.

 

GIPS also recently announced that it signed an agreement with California-based WYDE Voice, a company that specializes in bringing voice to multi-speaker/multi-listener environments. This new agreement includes platform, support fees and royalties.

 

Ovum provides value-added advisory services and consulting, and engages in continuous research and industry analysis to determine market dynamics in its specialist sectors. The company holds long-standing relationships with its corporate clients, which include major international blue-chip companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, BT, Cable & Wireless, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Microsoft (News - Alert), Telstra and Vodafone. Ovum is part of the Datamonitor Group.

San Francisco-based Global IP Solutions is a skilled provider of best-in-class voice and video processing in IP communications. GIPS enables its customers to provide superior quality, with a faster time-to-market and with less risk than alternative solutions.

 

The company’s customers include application developers, wired and wireless service providers and network and telecommunications equipment vendors. Some of the major clients it serves include AOL, Citrix, Gadu-Gadu, IBM, Mail.ru, LG Nortel, Movial, Nimbuzz, Nortel, Oracle (News - Alert), Radvision, Samsung, Tencent and other key players in the voice and video markets.