February 8th, 2005
Report: healthcare market, broadband provider promotions to boost WiFi-VoIP handset growth
When you go VoIP, you essentially have three equipment choices: hook up your existing phone to your router and your broadband connection; use a microphone and softphone emulator, ortalk through aVoIP handset.
That last alternative is the least used, but one which is finding favor - especially for Wi-Fi VoIP.
Wi-Fi Phones Annual Worldwide Market Size and Forecastis justout today from Infonetics Research.
The report says that in 2004, worldwide Wi-Fi VoIP handset revenue totaled $45 million on sales of 113,000.
My colleague Ben Charny sees this level as not adding up to much. True, but it’s early.
Infoneticsenvisions the future of Wi-Fi VoIP handsets boosted by growth in specific enterprise applications, such as healthcare. The Bromley, U.K.-based firm also sees growth in the consumer space, as broadband providers increasingly market VoIP services and wireless gateways bundled with a broadband connection.
Do WiFi-VoIP handsets interest you? If so let us know why by posting a TalkBack.
Russell Shaw is an enterprise computing journalist, analyst and author based in Portland, Oregon. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
