Mobile VoIP is an extension of VoIP that allows for IP-based calls to be made from a mobile handset. Voice traffic travels over the available broadband connection, whether that connection is 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi, or GPRS.  Like fixed VoIP, mobile VoIP is being adopted in both the consumer and business segments, but has only recently begun to be implemented in the business environment. Yet growth rates are strong and by the end of the forecast period in 2015, users will have grown to nearly 83 million lines/seats, according to new In-Stat research, The Business of Mobile VoIP: IP Voice Communications in the Enterprise.

“There are several reasons that adoption of mobile VoIP makes sense,” says Amy Cravens, Senior Analyst.  “Some of these include the ability to take the desktop phone experience with you, the ability to utilize the benefits of IP-based communication features, a cheaper international long-distance cost, an easy implementation path, and better indoor coverage where cellphone reception has historically been poor.”

Some of the research findings include:

Business mobile VoIP users will increase tenfold over the next five years.
IP PBX users will account for the majority of business mobile VoIP usage.
Mobile operators are increasingly embracing mobile VoIP as they realize that demand for these offerings is not subsiding.
Hotspots open the potential for using VoIP over Wi-Fi as more of a mobile service rather than as a residential or business service.
Recent In-Stat research, The Business of Mobile VoIP: IP Voice Communications in the Enterprise (#IN1004853MCM), explores the emerging market for business mobile VoIP offerings, covering:

Definition and discussion of business mobile VoIP
Elements impeding and promoting the adoption of mobile VoIP in the enterprise
Mobile VoIP solutions specific to the enterprise market and analysis of key providers
Discussion of underlying markets including IP PBX, hosted PBX, and enterprise smartphone adoption
Forecasts of worldwide business mobile VoIP users segmented by implementation type, as well as associated revenue opportunity
Companies mentioned include: 3 Mobile, Cicero, Clearwire, CounterPath, Google, Nimbuzz, Rebtel, RingCentral, ShoreTel, Skype, Telefonica, Truphone, Verizon Wireless, Vonage, and Vopium