Wireless VoIP phones part of future

Wireless VoIP will become increasingly common in the business telecoms industry over the next few weeks, a new report has suggested.

Figures from ON World, a San Diego consultancy firm, predict that the number of people using mobile VoIP phones worldwide will reach 100 million by 2011, compared to just seven million in 2007, reports Business Week.

This means that mobile VoIP services could create $33.7 billion (£18.4 billion) in 2011, compared with just $516 million (£281 million) in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available.

The cost benefit is the reason many subscribers switch to VoIP, with Business Week citing the example of Scott Goldman, a Californian-based consultant who uses his mobile to make international calls but doesn't have to pay for them because of VoIP.

While currently his VoIP traffic goes over his mobile network, with more and more Wi-Fi hotspots appearing he will be able to bypass it completely.

He told Business Week: "Once I can make calls using the Wi-Fi network I will, in all likelihood reduced the monthly minutes I have [with his service provider]."