VoIP
Explodes in 2005
Voice over Internet
Protocol better know as VoIP has grown
tremendously
in the past few years. This growth
trend is not expected to slow down
any
time soon. It is reported that the
VoIP industry will continue to set
records in the upcoming years. In
the next 3 years there is likely to
be
4 million new VoIP subscribers in
the United States. Those 4 million
pioneers will still represent a small
fraction of the 113 million
households where the traditional phone
call will still hold strong. This
just means that the VoIP market has
plenty of room to grow in the next
century.
IDC estimates some 3 million Americans
are currently signed up for VoIP in
2005. They expect that the number
of VoIP consumers will grow nine-fold
to 27 million by the end of 2009.
Analyst firm IDC said that VoIP has
been slow to get rolling but is "finally
beginning to show its potential in
the consumer market." Going forward,
the value proposition of VoIP will
become less about price, the major
selling point today, and more about
service capabilities. Unlimited local
and long-distance calling and voice
mail along with many more standard
features for as little as $20 a month
is a bargain compared to traditional
phone service prices. The low price
of VoIP is the main attraction for
new customers willing to try out this
new technology.
These numbers are impressive by every
means but many VoIP customers are
still holding out to see how the new
technology holds up in the next few
months. Am IDC analyst refers to the
technology as "still in the very
early stages of development and carriers
and equipment vendors need to plan
for a marathon." The technology
is still evolving, for instance, many
early adopters complain about crackling
calls or other interference. New providers
have accounted for these problems
and have adjusted their new VoIP lines
to eliminate these various problems
to ensure the best service the technology
allows.
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