Research and Markets: Voice Communications: from Public Service to Private Application.DUBLIN, Ireland -- Skype's Free Telephony Meaning "sound over distance," it refers to electronically transmitting the human voice. In the beginning, telephony dealt only with analog signals in the circuit-switched networks of the telephone companies. Software, Launched in August 2003, Spread Through Word-of-Mouth, with No Traditional Marketing, to Claim over 7 Million Users in August 2004 Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of Voice Communications: from public service to private application to their offering. The launch of Skype's free telephony software download in August 2003 caught the industry's imagination as it rapidly overtook o·ver·took v. Past tense of overtake. more established VoIP players to attain subscriber figures never before seen in an over-hyped market segment that had long been plagued with technical problems. The software, initially offered to the users of KaZaA's file sharing Copying files from one computer to another. See peer-to-peer network, file sharing protocol and file and printer sharing. network, spread through word-of-mouth, with no traditional marketing, to claim over 7 million users in August 2004. Several copycat services have been launched this year, all offering free on-net calls within their closed user groups and offering optional extras including voicemail, conferencing See teleconferencing. and termination services to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) The worldwide voice telephone network. Once only an analog system, the heart of most telephone networks today is all digital. In the U.S. . These all have minimal network infrastructure, relying as they do on 'peer-to-peer' topologies to support the services. These private VoIP applications (PVAs) highlight the susceptibility susceptibility the state of being susceptible. Refers usually to infectious disease but may be to physical factors such as wetting or to psychological factors such as harassment. of traditional voice service providers, both fixed and mobile, to new business models made possible by widespread broadband access See broadband and wireless broadband. . This report assesses the potential impact on the voice market of these PVAs. It evaluates the underlying business models and quantifies their short-term impact on the core businesses of both fixed and mobile service providers. The longer-term potential for a 'critical mass effect' of PVA PVA polyvinyl alcohol. users giving rise to a new market structure is also explored and the possible scale of its impact is determined. The report explains how existing service providers can protect their revenues, and evaluates the strategic alternatives available to market participants The term market participant is used in United States constitutional law to describe a U.S. State which is acting as a producer or supplier of a marketable good or service. When a state is acting in such a role, it may permissibly discriminate against non-residents. . Voice Communications: from public service to private application answers the following key questions: --What are the existing business models in the market and how are they likely to evolve? --What are the factors required to trigger a 'critical mass effect'? --How much do traditional operators stand to lose? --Who could take advantage of the new business models, and how? Who should read this report? --Mainstream fixed voice operators: understand the threat posed by the emerging business models, assess the scale of the potential impact and develop counter-strategies to minimise the danger --Internet Service Providers: understand where the main opportunities lie in terms of market segments, business models and distribution strategies for the launch of voice services --Specialist VoIP providers: identify the main opportunities and develop longer-term market strategies --Mobile network operators: understand the potential impact on mobile usage and revenues --Equipment vendors: understand the market drivers and identify new opportunities Report Contents: Contents 0 Summary 1 Voice markets face increasingly severe fragmentation (1) Storing data in non-contiguous areas on disk. As files are updated, new data are stored in available free space, which may not be contiguous. Fragmented files cause extra head movement, slowing disk accesses. A defragger program is used to rewrite and reorder all the files. --1.1 Voice markets are already fragmenting under different technologies and competition --1.2 Private VoIP applications are a new and potentially strong force for fragmentation --1.3 A business model generating a critical mass of users could overthrow existing market structures 2 Private VoIP applications are gaining credibility --2.1 Private VoIP technologies, pros and cons pros and cons Noun, pl the advantages and disadvantages of a situation [Latin pro for + con(tra) against] --2.2 Current offerings and uses --2.3 Issues to be resolved and future developments 3 New business models are needed for sustained impact -- 3.1 Voice market characteristics and drivers --3.2 Private VoIP market segments and player opportunities --3.3 Plausible private VoIP business models 4 A critical mass of users for private VoIP applications could downgrade Downgrade A negative change in the rating of a security. Notes: For example, an analyst may downgrade a stock from strong buy to buy, or a bond rating agency may downgrade a bond from AAA to AA. public voice services --4.1 Near-term impacts --4.2 Critical-mass impact 5 Voice players need to prepare for difficult future market outcomes --5.1 Market evolution and critical-mass effect --5.2 Market structure and value chains --5.3 Strategic issues and player responses Actions For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c4547 |
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