Carriers to push mobile VoIP service

Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol will quickly overtake voice-over-Wi-Fi technology and become a mainstream form of communication, predicts a new study from research firm Disruptive Analysis.
The firm predicts the number of VoIP over 3G users could grow from virtually zero this year to more than 250 million by the end of 2012.
Disruptive Analysis said it believes carriers will drive the push for VoIP over cellular networks to take advantage of better spectrum efficiency, reduced operating expenses and new services.
“3G networks are increasingly capable of supporting VoIP, for both traditional mobile operators and independent Internet-based VoIP challengers,” said Dean Bubley, author of the report and founder of Disruptive Analysis. “But while CDMA operators will benefit from VoIP being ‘designed-in’ to their newest networks, 3GPP/HSPA operators will have to wait for several years-a window of opportunity which will be exploited by the ‘over the top’ players. Rather than competing head-on, partnership models have the potential to create win-win propositions.”