Mobiles 'provide the next big opportunity for VoIP market'

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is now a common feature of office-based telecommunications systems, but it will soon become the norm for mobile users too.

That is the view of Martyn Davies, telecom consultant at Weird Crater, who said the majority of private branch exchanges are now VoIP-enabled, meaning many calls made and received by companies from their headquarters are now run over the internet rather than through traditional lines.

But he anticipates the technology becoming the norm on mobiles as well over the coming months and years.

"The next big shift will be to mobile. Today, mobile handsets use traditional circuit switching, but mobility apps are starting to arrive on smartphones and ultimately long-term evolution will make all mobile calls into VoIP ones," Mr Davies explained.

This will not necessarily have any impact on the way mobiles look or behave, as the expert noted that the widespread adoption of VoIP in the office has not changed the way telephones appear.

Perhaps the best news of all for mobile VoIP users is that the internet infrastructure to support such beneficial technology is seemingly being put in place. Earlier this month, for instance, O2 announced it had set London's first 4G broadband service live.

This could pave the way for a bright future for mobile VoIP solutions – and, indeed, the use of the technology in its standard form.

Mr Davies suggested there is plenty to come from the market over the coming years, with a range of factors combining to ensure a healthy and exciting future.

"VoIP has enabled a generation of new entrants into the telecom market and this has fired innovation and brought price pressure on the incumbents," he stated.

He went on to note that a strong market with plenty of innovation can only be a good thing for both vendors and, ultimately, consumers.