The Internet protocol (IP) telephone market is a tale of two very different markets – that of business and that of consumer – with the former thriving while the latter diverges in a drastically different direction, reports new research from In-Stat.
The high tech research firm has found that IP-based communication is steadily replacing TDM networks in the workplace, but adoption is slow among consumers. Even where VoIP is being used in the home, many consumers “don’t realize it because IP-based cable voice services are marketed as traditional PSTN voice offerings, supported by traditional analog telephones”, according to the press release.
"Within the business market, corded IP phones remain the standard, and will continue to dominate the enterprise IP phone market through 2012," says Norm Bogen, In-Stat analyst, in the release. "However, WLAN and IP DECT phones continue to grow, especially within some specific vertical and geographical markets."
By 2012, In-Stat predicts that 31 million voice-centric business IP phones will ship, outpacing consumer demand more than 10 to 1. The growing consumer market for voice-centric IP phones is being subjugated by the introduction of IP media (media phones) that support both IP communications, as well as delivery of Internet information and multimedia content.
These media phones will complement the PC, television, and mobile handset, becoming an "indispensable fourth screen in the home”.
In-Stat also found that:
– Consumer media phones will generate $4 – $8 billion in worldwide annual revenue by 2013.
– Business media phones will generate $3.3 billion in worldwide annual revenue in 2013.
– The US market for media phones will open up in 2009, with Europe coming on line in 2010.
– Cisco, Avaya, and Nortel are leading the market for enterprise IP phones, while Uniden holds top market share for consumer IP corded phones.
– Wi-Fi integration in cellular phones is growing, however, the majority of Wi-Fi/cellular phones are not designed for VoIP.
For more information on the report, called ‘IP Phones Worldwide – On The Desk and Beyond’, click here.
