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The VoIP Market Opportunity for Wireless Operators

There is a lot of news and rumour in the mobile market with regard to Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP has already established itself as a serious competitor for fixed line service providers, where it has taken a significant market share - both providers such as Skype which provide free peer-to-peer calls, and through pseudo telephone companies, such as Vonage, using VoIP to reduce their own costs which they then pass on to the user. If you can route fixed line phone calls over the Internet more cheaply than you can over the PSTN, why not do the same for mobile? Part of the reason is the capability of the network and the other is the data pricing models in use by many MNOs mean that even a "free" call can be much more expensive than one carried through a circuit switched network.

There are many companies and almost as many strategies seeking to resolve these issues. 3G networks have the capability, but so do WiFi hotspots, which might deliver lower costs than the 3G network. Some companies are building large, isolated communities while others are connecting multiple small communities together. Will MNOs be by-passed by VoIP or will it represent a great opportunity to consolidate their position as the natural partner for mobile devices and services? Must they inevitably experience a considerable drop in revenue as customers defect to VoIP services outside their control? This report examines the mobile market opportunity for VoIP and the levels of activity taking place seeking to exploit it. A scenario is built to estimate just how much revenue is at risk and conclusions and recommendations are drawn from the research results, so that MNOs can maximise their advantages and minimise their exposure to risk in this uncertain technology area.

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Table of Contents
1
Overview
1
2
Introduction
2
2.1
Background
2
2.2
Report Structure
3
3
Voice over IP Background
4
3.1
Origins of VoIP
4
3.2
VoIP Usage Today
6
3.3
VoIP Market Development
7
4
Current Mobile VoIP Initiatives
10
4.1
Introduction
10
4.2
Skype
11
4.2.1
Background
11
4.2.2
Mobile VoIP Offering
11
4.2.3
Key Partnerships
13
4.3
Hutchison 3 Group
14
4.3.1
Background
14
4.3.2
3 (UK) Skype Offering
15
4.3.3
Other 3 Offerings
16
4.4
E-Plus
16
4.4.1
Background
16
4.4.2
Withdrawn VoIP Offering
17
4.5
T-Mobile UK
19
4.5.1
Background
19
4.5.2
VoIP Offer
20
4.6
Truphone
22
4.6.1
Background
22
4.6.2
VoIP Offering
22
4.7
Other VoIP Service Initiatives
24
5
MNO Mobile VoIP Scenario
27
5.1
MNO Characteristics
27
5.2
Data Charges
28
5.3
Impact of Mobile VoIP on Revenues
28
6
Conclusions
31
7
MNO Recommendations
33