Demand for US mobile VoIP solutions set to rise

The mobile VoIP market is predicted to boom over the next five years, according to research.

Frost & Sullivan, the market research company, predicted that the mobile VoIP market in the US, Europe and Asia will be worth $30 billion (£21 billion) by 2015, compared to $606m (£422m) in 2008.

Users are attracted to the technology due to the recent introduction of flat-rate mobile data pricing, growth in smartphone shipments and high-speed mobile broadband, the firm claimed.

Frost & Sullivan senior analyst Saverio Romeo claimed that mobile operators will still attempt to contain the expansion as companies fear it may lead to a loss in profits.

He added: "Some mobile operators will continue to discourage subscribers from using VoIP over cellular networks, and suggest that it will not provide the same quality, efficiency and reliability of service offered by the GSM (cellular) network."

It echoes claims by UK industry research firm Ovum, which also claimed that mobile phone operators should embrace VoIP services.