VoIP to lead communication evolution
07 May 2008
VoIP to lead communication evolution
Personal IP services are the future of real time communications for the individual user, according to industry analysts.
Research heads IDC predicted Wednesday that there will be around half a billion worldwide personal IP communications subscribers by 2012.
The analyst divides this market segment into three areas: web-based services, portals, and mobile thin clients. Together, IDC forecasts these categories will represent more than $5bn in annual spending in 2012.
At the forefront of the evolution of personal IP communications, is 'voice as an application', populated by web services platforms from vendors like Rebtel or iotum. With the explosion of widgets, voice is becoming embedded in sites, applications, and other services, sometimes by third party developers but also by the original provider.
IP communication clients for devices, such as Truphone and TalkPlus, are also integral to the growth of personal IP communications, IDC said. While some web-based services offer a mobile platform via bridging capabilities over the cellular network, many thin clients are looking to provide an end-to-end VoIP experience via the data network. IDC reckons the proliferation of emergent MIDs (mobile internet devices) will be dependent on these IP communications clients' voice communications.
Meanwhile, standalone IP communication portals, like Skype and SightSpeed, have become a viable business. Calls between users on a platform are usually free no matter what the revenue structure, while some portals price calls on a per minute basis depending on where the call terminates and others offer a monthly subscription for unlimited minutes. Similarly, there are portals that rely 100 per cent on user generated revenue and others that rely on a mix of ads and user generated revenue.
"Funding models to support personal IP communications still remain in flux. Some services are already being offered for free, looking towards advertising to generate revenue. Other players are offering a free basic service and the option of a premium service for a monthly fee," said Rebecca Swensen, research analyst for VoIP Services at IDC. "Still, it is questionable whether either of these revenue models will be profitable. Will one model become the de facto standard in the next few years or will there continue to be varying revenue models?"
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