Posted: 24th Aug, 2005 By: MarkJ
Despite GPRS/3G mobile operators recently expressing a lack of fear in the face of Wi-Fi competition, Infonetics Research still expects handsets with Wi-Fi technology to help usher in a wireless voice-over-IP (
VoIP) boom:
The rise of dual-mode handsets which switch between mobile phone and Wi-Fi networks is seen as a positive step for the voice over wireless LANs. In 2004, worldwide revenue from dual-mode handsets hit $6.7m (£3.7m) and from all Wi-Fi VoIP handsets totalled $54.7m, according to Infonetics Research.
Separate research from analyst house Frost and Sullivan said the new handsets could help mobile providers increase revenue per user and reduce customer churn, because allowing customers to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile phone networks effectively increases coverage.
It predicts revenues for the European VoWLAN market will jump from 6.6m (£4.5m) in 2004 to 1.9bn in 2010 annual growth of nearly 160 percent.There are still standards and technical issues with VoWLAN to be worked out, although most believe this to be possible, signalling the above indicated boom. We shall see. More @
ZDNet.