The acceptance of voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and session initiation protocol (SIP) services by fixed and mobile network operators has been predicted to create £73 billion worldwide by 2012.

According to ABI Research, the increasing use of personal digital organisers and smartphones will drive this revenue boost as VoIP services go mainstream.

"We have seen the start of a revolution, as mobile handsets become the product of choice not just for voice and simple text messaging, but also for any task that one can perform on a personal computer," said ABI Research principal analyst Ian Cox.

"And as networks are replaced by ‘flat architecture' all-IP with SIP application servers in the core, all forms of communications become possible."

The research firm predicted that SIP services will become the norm for communications over the next three years and is set to become well-established by 2012, with around 1.2 billion people using VoIP and almost half of all telecom users having access to at least one device that offers mobile communications over the internet and between networks.