Mobile Enterprise VoIP: Has its time finally come? Maybe, maybe not

Mobile VoIP in Europe just can't get any respect..at least not at the moment. While mobile enterprise is seeing a boom--to the tune of increased spending in the 21 percent range year over year--it hasn't yet filtered down to VoIP, says Forrester Research analyst Phil Sayer. "I don't think enterprise mobile VoIP is going anywhere at the moment."
 
While VoIP is elbowing its way into enterprise as legacy systems grow old and die, it's struggling, despite being pushed along by start-ups and the odd telcos. At the moment, it's a matter of economics--and a perceived lack of user friendliness. Mobile operators aren't putting packages of VoIP minutes together, Sayer says, "they're positively trying to make it go away. So there is no immediate benefit for the business user or purchasing folks to adopt it." Because VoIP generally needs a smartphone, the market is further restricted.
 
But mobile enterprise VoIP has potential, lots of it, especially as employees become less tied to their offices. VoIP operator Truphone--which recently hooked up with conference-calling specialist Iotum--says more than half of its subscribers in 149 countries use VoIP for enterprise.
 
Says Forrester's Sayer about the potential for growth: "Sooner or later the dam will burst."
 
For more:
- See the complete article [1] in the Financial Times
 
Related articles:
Vodafone gets behind VoIP Report [2] 
T-Mobile CEO says wVoIP won't connect Report [3]