In-Stat Predicts 139 Million Mobile VoIP Users by 2014

By Anuradha Shukla, TMCnet Contributor

Social networking will push mobile VoIP users to about 139 million by 2014, according to research firm In-Stat.

In-Stat (News - Alert) notes that it has been nearly five years since mobile VoIP services were first introduced, and VoIP is all set to become an integrated component of unified social networking services.

Mobile VoIP is portable, thus users can bring the benefits of VoIP with them when traveling abroad and do away with the expensive roaming fees that mobile operators charge.

The upcoming several years are forecasted to be transformational for mobile operators and other associated players, as they will be required to figure out how to respond to a forecast of nearly 139 million mobile VoIP users by 2014.

"Mobile VoIP is gaining real market presence with usage rates climbing rapidly," said Amy Cravens, market analyst. "As it becomes further incorporated into other mobile apps, specifically social networking apps, the realm of potential use is expected to broaden. This has created a great deal of jockeying among mobile VoIP players trying to develop market share and mobile operators trying to determine the best response to this potentially disruptive service offering."

In-Stat research “Mobile VoIP: Social Networking Integrates IP Voice” explores the emerging market for mobile VoIP offerings. Key findings of In-Stat show that in the coming years, mobile operators will gradually remove barriers to mobile VoIP usage, but will remain guarded in how these services are introduced.

According to In-Stat's consumer survey, T-Mobile (News - Alert) subscribers exhibited the greatest incidence of mobile VoIP usage; nearly twice that of total respondents.

Research findings indicate that total 2014 revenues will be split between the EMEA (39 percent), Asia/Pacific (32 percent), North America (21 percent), and the rest of the world (8 percent).

Read a related article at TMCnet: “Patton (News - Alert) and Partners will Promote VoIP Buyback Program at ITExpo.”

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