Mobile VOIP users triple

Internet protocol (VOIP) subscriber rates tripled in 2011, growing from nine million in 2010 to 29 million, following increasing smartphone penetration, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This is according to In-Stat Research, which found that revenues associated with mobile VOIP usage will increase to more than $4 billion in 2015.

However, the research firm says LTE operators are not likely to have a significant impact on the mobile VOIP market until 2013.

Numerous mobile providers have begun offering services that, to some degree, give consumers access to mobile VOIP, Telappliant says.

"While VOIP is a well-defined market, mobile VOIP is still in its infancy, with most offerings only being developed over the past several years - and because it's in its nascent stage, there are significant opportunities for companies to develop the market," explains Amy Cravens, In-Stat senior analyst.

According to IntoMobile, In-Stat reveals that the largest concentration of mobile VOIP users is in Western Europe.

In addition, the primary distribution channel to access mobile VOIP offerings is through the OS application store.