IP phones will grow from 2% currently to 73% in 2009, but mass production of dual-mode sets is not scheduled until 2007! In both business and consumer markets, widespread adoption of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) depends on the availability of wireless VoIP handsets, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). Dual-mode cellular/WiFi handsets will be the key driver to mass consumer adoption of VoIP, the high-tech market research firm says. By 2009, In-Stat forecasts that over 66 million cellular/WiFi handsets will be in operation.

“Wireless high-speed broadband access, unified messaging, video, and dual-network cellular/WiFi services are making the mobile triple play a consumer market reality,” says Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst. “The key to successfully capturing the market for these next-generation personalized services is control of the end-point device.”

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:
- Worldwide, consumer VoIP subscribers using wireless IP phones will grow from 2% currently to 73% in 2009.
- Based on competition from mobile carriers without wireline operations, Europe will be the largest initial market for dual-mode smartphones.
- While mass production of dual-mode sets is not scheduled until 2007, an In-Stat market survey found that over 80% of businesses have an interest in the technology.