|
|
|
| Demand for VoIP to double by nearly 2 million people |
| Monday, April 10, 2006 at 20:10 by Simon Spicer |
Its no surprise to see that a new report has found that the use of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is set to double in the next 12 months.
Currently about 1.8 million people in the UK use or have tried VoIP, this figure is set to double with 1.8 million NEW users expected to take up the service in the next 12 months.
Its suggested that this doubling of demand is driven by people having such positive experiences using VoIP technology. Continental associate director
James Myring said that “Most users are quite satisfied and will use it more in the future”.
The report also looked into the most polular VoIP providers and again its no suprise to see the top slot with 48% of all called being made using Skype (bought byeBay for £2.9bn last year) and second place going to Microsofts MSN Messenger.
Skypes dominance in this market will not be left unchallanged by BT, who will be concerned about losing market share from its fixed line business and will no doubt market its own VoIP on a large scale.
Most VoIP calls are free to other users as long as the recipients use the same software, calls to different VoIP providers, landlines and mobile phones are chargeable at rates of around 2p per minute.
With the qulaity of the service growing and better VoIP phones coming on to the market, its no suprise to see the use of VoIP grow so much so fast.
|
|
| |
 
|
|
| All the above information has been well trailed in the press, what remains to be seen is what will happen when ISPs and new providers start offering breakout FOC with the broadband connection. Rather like Carphone's recent decision to offer 'Free' broadband bundled with the TalkTalk package, once providers can provide VoIP and additional services, such as voicemail, findme-followme, conferencing etc and wrap these services into a standard flat monthly fee then we find that there is a real challenge for the fixed line providers. Unless of course the fixed line providers are prepared to take the plunge and risk there own fixed line business by making the first move.
Due to the bundled nature of these products we will see a real advantage for the first mover in this space as once a user has decieded on a provider it will be very difficult to move, great if you are first in, but a bugger once the market has matured.
For what it is worth....... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
