According to the research group Frost & Sullivan, by 2007, VoIP traffic is projected to account for about 75 per cent of the world's voice traffic. These figures are simply phenomenal, showing unprecedented potential in their markets. Even in the long term, it is the culmination of VoIP with point-of-service applications that show great promise. This is where the emergence of mobile VoIP comes in.

Palm PDAs, Smartphones and Pocket PCs have become popular in corporate networks, especially among road warriors who travel for business. The consumer market, as is often the case, could be next. Most research firms and market intelligence watchdogs predict that almost all regular and cellular calls will go through the Internet by the year 2010.

The industry has been buzzing about the future of VoIP since eBay announced it would spend $2.6 billion in acquiring Skype. This buyout shows that technology executives are betting that consumers will soon change how they make phone calls, reducing the need for a phone service from traditional providers.

The premiere market intelligence firm, IDC, in their research stated that mobile VoIP would surface on the communications map in the current year in a very big way. In its report IDC also stated that trials and proof of concepts wireless installation would be a major aspect of the market in the year ahead.

Another report from market research firm In-Stat predicts that mobile VoIP would be the key in the widespread adoption of the service in both business and consumer markets. In fact a full 73 per cent of worldwide VoIP lines and some 66 million VoIP handsets will be wireless in 2009, up from just a mere two per cent currently.

The mass market availability of dual mode handsets and IP telephony vendor's integration of fixed mobile convergence features into their IP PBX. Companies have moved ahead, and are installing VoIP more for the applications available rather than just the cost benefits.

The benefits of mobile VoIP can be identified in three core areas:

Cost Reduction: Reducing long distance telephone costs are the primary reason for mobile VoIP.

Simplification: An integrated device that supports all forms of communication allows more standardization, and the process of staying connected throughout the world is easily achieved. Being always on, at every traveling latitude, is now possible without complicated roaming issues. The differences between the traffic patterns of voice and data offer further opportunities for significant efficiency improvements.

Consolidation: Universal use of the IP protocols for all applications holds out the promise of both reduced complexity and more flexibility. Related facilities such as directory services and security services may be more easily shared.

Wireless carriers will embrace dual-mode products to save on network costs as IP networks are less expensive to operate. Those cost savings would then be passed onto consumers in the form of more generous minutes-offers or flat-rate calling plans similar to those for VoIP landline services.

Other benefits to end users from mobile VoIP include the unification of home and mobile communications into a single device with a single phone number, one voicemail and one address book.

Mobile VoIP will allow users to make long distance calls from anywhere that has public Internet hot spots such as hotels, cafeterias, airports etc. What's more, with the proper wireless Internet connection, the smartphone can be used as a home or office VoIP phone without using a headset and according to the company multiple users of the phone can connect with each other for long-distance conference calling completely free of cost.

The convenience and cost of mobile VoIP is unbeatable. Having the best of both worlds is now possible at the price of one.

About MantraGroup Inc.

MantraGroup Inc. is a recognized leader in the Palm industry which has provided widely popular Causerie Unified Messaging solution in the past. “As a communications technology oriented company, we believe in the power of human communication and continue to better our messaging solutions. We have analyzed the growth of VoIP technology in terms of the market available for Palm PDAs and saw the need for a converged communication solution for PDAs” ” adds Manohar Chapalamadugu, the CEO of the company.

The idea is to transform the millions of PDAs available in the market into powerful converged communication devices.