Mobile VoIP solutions users 'expected to triple in 2011'

Mobile voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solutions are becoming increasingly popular with users around the world – and another hike in demand is expected to be confirmed when results for 2011 are published.

In-Stat has revealed its findings for the year in question, with the headline result said to be its belief that subscribers to mobile VoIP services will triple during this time.

The key factor behind such a surge in demand for the technology is smartphone penetration, with numerous providers now offering services that, to some degree, give consumers access to mobile VoIP.

"While VoIP is a well-defined market, mobile VoIP is still in its infancy, with most offerings only being developed over the past several years - and because it's in its nascent stage, there are significant opportunities for companies to develop the market," explained Amy Cravens, senior analyst at In-Stat.

She went on to suggest there are, however, a number of uncertainties that solutions providers must overcome, although this is not unusual in such a new and booming market.

The organisation's latest findings show the number of mobile VoIP users in 2011 should grow from nine million in 2009 to some 29 million.

Other conclusions drawn by the firm's research include the fact that smartphone operating system application stores are the primary portal from which mobile VoIP applications are acquired.

It also found that the greatest concentration of people using the technology is in western Europe.

And it is not only the number of VoIP solutions users that is growing, as the revenue they produce is too. In-Stat suggested a figure of $4 billion (£2.6 billlion) is to be achieved by 2015.

The European Union's official research body Eurostat recently revealed that 47 per cent of all enterprises in the continent used mobile broadband connections in 2011, up from 27 per cent in 2010, which could mean more are enticed by the prospect of VoIP solutions for their handsets.