By Jess Hanslip

mVoIP clients downloaded to the smartphone will account for four fifths of 640 million mobile VoIP users by the end of 2016, while alliances between carriers and mVoIP specialists will remain relatively few in number. Improved technology, more intuitive interfaces and increased user awareness all account for the increasing dominance of the app model for mVoIP, finds Juniper Research. In addition VoIP specialists are broadening their horizons as they explore the potential of alliances with social media, gaming and software companies.

The Changing Role of Voice

As social media becomes ever more mainstream, Juniper Research anticipates the role of voice within the broader communications market changing and becoming available as an extension of other applications, such as gaming and social networking. Specialist companies, e.g. Vivox, are pioneering such services in the gaming industry, and Skype’s acquisition by Microsoft and several Facebook alliances with VoIP providers will accelerate this trend.

“Eventually voice may become one of several options in an environment where multiple methods of communicating are possible on the same platform,” says Juniper Research’s Anthony Cox. The report notes, however, that circuit-switched technology will continue to be important for the foreseeable future, particularly in less developed markets.

Further findings include:

• The number of mobile video calling users will exceed 130 million by 2016, spurred by the launch of mobile video calling by major players and technology improvements.

• Mobile VoIP and mobile video calling services will develop significantly faster in developed markets, due to a correlation between 3G and 4G roll outs and the take up of mobile VoIP and mobile video calling.

• There is, as yet, no clear role for advertising within the mobile VoIP and mobile video calling business model, though this is beginning to come for VoIP on the desktop.

The mVoIP whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report.

About the author and Juniper Research

Jess Hanslip is PR for Juniper Research, which provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.