Mobile VoIP is starting to challenge traditional voice services

Demand for mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is beginning to challenge the traditional voice services from operators, new research claims.

According to a study by analysis firm Gartner, the demand for flat rate mobile data packages has resulted in the technology taking a greater share of the £460 billion worldwide mobile market.

Akshay Sharma, research director at Gartner, claimed that in the next ten years, over half of mobile voice traffic will be "carried end-to-end using VoIP".

"Carriers will adopt voice services because of the increased capacity and reduced cost of delivering voice over 4G networks," he explained.

"Third parties will adopt a voice option for their communications hub."

However, fellow Gartner research director Tole Hart added that the point where 4G networks reach the right level for mobile VoIP to dominate could be as far away as 2017.

"Once the basic market conditions are in place, transition to mobile portal VoIP should be fairly rapid because of the inherent convenience and end-user cost savings," he said.

In related news, the European Union recently hinted that it will act to ensure service providers allow consumers to make VoIP calls on their mobiles.