Mobile phone handsets integrated with voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology could soon become the next big communications solution, according to the Internet Telephony Services Providers' Association (ITSPA).

Colin Duffy, a council member of the ITSPA, claimed that phones which combines the benefits of traditional telephony systems and modern VoIP hardware will prove increasingly attractive to consumers.

"What I think will be the proper solution to mobile VoIP is a dual phone – an old-fashioned cell phone that is also a VoIP phone simultaneously, so that when it picks up a Wi-Fi signal it uses that instead of the mobile [network]," he added.

However, Mr Duffy claimed development may be slowed by concern that such flexible solutions could have a negative impact on mobile firms.

Recent research by iLocus suggests that the amount invested by firms on VoIP technology has soared over the last twelve months.

The data suggests there was a 35 per cent rise in overall VoIP traffic last year, while the number of VoIP access server licenses sold globally increased by 67 per cent.