| Telecommunications is a multi-billion pound industry. | | | | to Wi-Fi or mobile broadband connections means |
| Almost everyone now has a mobile phone in his | | | | that anyone with this complementary technology |
| or her pocket. Our love affair with technology in | | | | can take advantage of cheap phone calls via VoIP. |
| the 21st Century has seen the public embrace | | | | In fact, the smart phone providers seem to be |
| every new piece of 'smart' tech, giving us all | | | | far more pro-active in their incorporation of VoIP |
| instant communications, no matter where in the | | | | as many, including the all-conquering Apple iPhone |
| world we are. But experts are concerned that | | | | come with features that specifically allow |
| mobile providers may be holding back on | | | | customers to utilise VoIP services through either |
| incorporating the very latest tech into their | | | | mobile broadband or Wi-Fi facilities. So despite |
| provisions - mobile VoIP. | | | | user demand, the availability of cutting edge |
| Massive potential | | | | technology and the potential for massive revenue, |
| The VoIP system has been up and running for at | | | | why are some providers still reluctant to embrace |
| least 15 years, and for many business and | | | | VoIP? |
| domestic customers it provides them with cheap | | | | The argument put forward by reluctant providers |
| phone calls to both local and international numbers. | | | | is that VoIP does not offer the same quality or |
| The benefits of VoIP have been proven in the | | | | reliability when compared to services provided by |
| commercial sector, but mobile users have until | | | | the GSM network. Whilst it may be true that 15 |
| now seemingly been left out of the equation. | | | | years ago, the earliest versions of VoIP were |
| Which is strange when you consider that the | | | | often susceptible to loss of connection and poor |
| mobile VoIP companies who are providing their | | | | sound quality, this actually had far more to do |
| customers with this option are forecasting | | | | with sub-standard microphones fitted into PCs and |
| £21billion in potential revenue by 2015. | | | | unstable broadband connections. |
| This is an astonishing prediction, but if mobile VoIP | | | | The advent of fibre-optics, faster and more |
| does become an accepted part of mobile | | | | reliable broadband connections and superior quality |
| telephony packages, it is perfectly achievable. In | | | | hardware in the form of smart phones renders |
| 2008 mobile VoIP companies had already | | | | this argument moot. It almost seems that |
| generated £422million. Factoring in the speed | | | | vendors are reluctant to embrace VoIP because it |
| with which mobile technology grows, the | | | | may mean initially a drop in call revenue. However |
| £21billion forecast suddenly seems much less | | | | in the longer term, providers will see a rise in |
| surprising than at first glance. | | | | revenue as more people use VoIP to make cheap |
| But despite this massive potential for growth, | | | | phone calls from their mobiles. |
| many mobile phone providers still seem reluctant | | | | We love to talk to each other. If providers make |
| to give up their flat rate mobile data pricing | | | | it cheaper, it naturally follows that we'll use the |
| policies. Surveys have shown that almost 70% of | | | | system more. Those providers who do not realise |
| ISP providers in Europe either prohibit or restrict | | | | just how revolutionary mobile VoIP is and how |
| the use of VoIP over their mobile broadband | | | | much of an influence it will have on telephony |
| networks. For customers tied into contracts with | | | | over the next five years will be missing out on a |
| providers, this means that they could be missing | | | | potential revenue bonanza. And their customers |
| out on cheap calls from their mobiles purely | | | | will be missing out on cheap calls. That could be a |
| because of internal company policy. | | | | disastrous combination for providers who do not |
| Complementary technology | | | | take a more positive attitude towards VoIP. |
| The introduction of smart phones that can link in | | | | |