Global Wi-Fi phone sales topped $535m (£281m) last year,
up 327% from 2005, said analyst
Infonetics Research.
The big jump is down to new Wi-Fi phone services being launched
by the likes of Skype, BT and Avaya, and new handsets being thrust
on the market by Nokia, D-Link and others.
Wi-Fi handsets allow users to connect calls over a voice over IP
network, allowing them to benefit from free or cheaper calls.
For the four-year period between 2007 and 2010, Wi-Fi handset
sales are forecast to increase nearly 1,300%, said Infonetics
Research.
Infonetics said the fastest growing segment in the market is in
dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular VoIP phones, which allow users to make
calls over a VoIP network when in range, or a mobile network when
not.
Richard Webb, an analyst at Infonetics Research, said, “More
operators are transforming into integrated multimedia service
providers, creating converged mobile, wireless Lan and VoIP
solutions that support voice and data services across enterprise,
public and home networks.”
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