Mobile VoIP to skyrocket by 2017
Enterprise mobility has been increasingly prioritized by businesses around the world, as the ability to boost productivity through remote workers and always-up networks increases the competitive edge. While Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) continues to become more popular, along with presence and and video conferencing, the market for unified communications (UC) will skyrocket.
Recent reports have shown that mobile VoIP is among the hottest commodities in enterprise communications today, and that this demand will only increase as the years go on. With the right UC solutions in place, companies can expect operations to be changed dramatically in the coming years, largely for the better.
Juniper's projections
Juniper Research recently released the results of a report titled Mobile & Tablet Voice & Video Calling: Strategic Opportunities & Business Models 2012-2017. According to the firm, mobile VoIP will hit 1 billion users by 2017, which would represent roughly one in every seven mobile users. The report noted that this would be specifically regarding over the top (OTT) mobile VoIP.
Juniper's study purported that mobile video calling will begin to become more profitable in the coming years, while other advances in mobile technology, such as fourth generation (4G) and new devices, will further bolster the market. Now, while many believed VoIP might have already passed its peak, mobile applications of the technology seem to be driving higher adoption rates among individuals.
VoIP, much like mobile devices and applications in general, will likely enter the workplace at a very rapid speed through bring your own device (BYOD) and other mobility strategies.
Expert explains VoIP path
Fred Donovan, writing for Fierce Enterprise Communications, recently explained that the latest Juniper report and other indicators might signify the beginning of the most popular time for mobile VoIP. He asserted that while mobile VoIP was not traditionally viewed as a way to make money, developers are now gaining stronger marketing capabilities through the technology, thus driving sales.
Donovan noted that BYOD trends will bring mobile VoIP even further, as many of the personal smartphones and tablets used in enterprises today are already preloaded with software that can facilitate VoIP. While Juniper foresees VoIP gaining more than 15 percent adoption rates by 2017 among individual users, that author pointed to a report from In-Stat last year that projects enterprise mobile VoIP usage to be ten times higher in 2017 than today.
