InStat sees $32.2B mobile VoIP app revs in 2013

In-Stat has released a report that is very bullish on the future revenue potential of mobile VoIP applications, predicting the annual revenues for the market will increase to $32.2 billion by 2013. The report, "Mobile VoIP - Transforming the Future of Wireless Voice," also predicts 278 million registered users of mobile VoIP applications by 2013.

If In-Stat's revenue estimate is to hold, however, these applications would not only have to meet the user base prediction but generate monthly ARPU of $9.65, not an easy feat with voice becoming increasingly commoditized.

"Applications such as Skype and Vonage have influenced users to think of voice as a data application," says Frank Dickson, In-Stat analyst, in a release. "The increasing penetration of Wi-Fi in mobile devices was the beach head that Mobile VoIP applications needed. As user habits are being shaped by rich on-line communication experiences, mobile carriers control over devices and data applications is waning. Mobile carrier attempts to slow the spread of on-line Mobile VoIP are proving challenging as well."

The report predicts that Asia will overtake EMEA as the regional leader in mobile VoIP revenues by 2013. 

For more:
- see the press release on Reuters here 

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