More smartphone users opt for VOIP

An Analysys Mason study of approximately 1 000 smartphone users in Europe and the US found that nearly 4% of respondents use mobile VOIP than traditional voice services, Billing World reports.

The study indicates that IP communications provided by the likes of Skype and Vonage is no longer just an alternative to fixed-line phone service.

According to Analysys Mason, of the smartphone users who are using VOIP apps, 20% used the Internet protocol-based technology more than traditional voice.

“As more people use VOIP as their primary voice service, then ever larger numbers of individual users' key contacts will be contactable through VoIP apps,” Analysys Mason says.

Skype CEO Tony Bates says: “The importance of mobile and Skype's commitment to cross-platform accessibility is paramount.”

Rather than pay for an SMS message or a phone call, people may use Skype, WhatsApp, Rebtel, Viber, Voxer or some other upstart to send messages and videos or make VOIP calls for free.

Users may still incur data charges however with WiFi access they may avoid those charges. Ovum, a consultancy, has estimated that VOIP messaging cost operators $13.9 billion, or 9% of message revenue, last year, The Economist reports.