By Wireless Week Staff
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A survey of MVNOs carried out by iLocus reveals that nearly one-fourth of MVNOs are already testing mobile VoIP. By 2010, more than two-thirds expect to have a mobile VoIP offering in place.
According to the report, MVNOs could drive the first phase of mobile VoIP apart from the independent startups. The eligible providers are MVNOs, MNOs, ISPs and WiMAX operators. As far as WiMAX operators are concerned, they have to offer VoIP to differentiate themselves from other broadband providers.
Among the issues touched upon by the survey, the network architecture supporting mobile VoIP is of prime importance to MVNOs. The choice is clearly bridged mobile VoIP option that does not necessarily require a data plan. Nearly half (48%) of the MVNOs prefer this option. Mobile VoIP over data connections can imply free calls if the communication is client-to-client. Most MVNOs seem to resist the idea.
The report forecasts the number of paying mobile VoIP subscribers served by MVNOs to reach about 1.6 million by the end of 2008.