Report forecasts rapid growth in VoIPo3G

A new report from advisory firm, Disruptive Analysis, suggests that the number of VoIP Users Over 3G Mobile Networks (VoIPo3G) could soar to 250 million by 2012.

The study expects mobile VoIP to rapidly overtake voice over WiFi to become a mainstream form of communication, with growth driven by cellular network operators.

Disruptive Networks believes VoIPo3G will be popular with carriers as it will enable them to fit more phone calls into a limited allocation of radio spectrum.

It will also help to reduce operating expenses, allowing fixed and mobile core networks to be combined and will facilitate new services such as push-to-talk and voice-integrated mashups.

VoIPo3G is compatible with femtocells and all-IP technologies such as 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution), 3GPP2 UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), and WiMAX.

With these radio technologies still a few years away from becoming mainstream, independent VoIP companies are currently using 3G support for VoIP by equipping smartphones with dedicated software, and exploiting open operating systems, flat-rate data plans and features such as naked SIP and built-in VoIP capability.

The report notes an increase in the number of carriers marketing 3G modems for PCs in order to compete with home DSL/cable broadband offerings. Some operators provide VoIP software for PCs with wireless broadband.

Disruptive Networks expects these trends and developments to lead to most VoIPo3G users using mobile carriers’ own standards-based VoIP capabilities, over the new, advanced 3G+ networks by 2012.