VoIP phones could eventually replace traditional mobile phones

With the advent of 3G and 4G networks, it is anticipated that VoIP solutions will be used in conjunction with unlimited wireless data plans to replace established mobile voice services, Unified Communications Strategies has said.

However, mobile network operators will seek to maintain their "very profitable business" by "controlling the ground rules by which their services can be used", according to the unified communications information resource.

Michael Finneran, president of independent enterprise wireless communications consulting and analyst firm dBrn Associates, said that mobile operators will attempt to put "the kibosh" on cost savings via VoIP traffic.

"That is not to say that the traditional mobile business model is not under strain", Mr Finneran told Unified Communications Strategies, with consumers motivated by the appeal of owning a smartphone rather than mobile services.

Mobile network operators had "big hopes for profitable walled garden services over their 3G services", he explained, but consumers have shown that, given the choice, they will "flock to the old fashioned open internet", which could include accessing VoIP solutions.

There will be more smartphones in the US markets than feature phone by 2011, according to a survey by global information and media company Nielsen.