It seems that nothing can stop the rise and rise of Internet telephony. Driven by ever cheaper and faster broadband, VoIP has become one of the fastest-growing applications on the Internet. But apart from cheap calls, there are other factors which have contributed to this success story. There is clearly a trend toward more innovative and more mobile services and this looks likely to ensure that demand for VoIP continues to grow. It is estimated that there are already around four million VoIP users in the UK, excluding business subscriptions.

Industry insiders point to the emergence of ADSL broadband connections that do not require line rental for a conventional phone line (naked ADSL), and number portability between conventional and IP phone services as the two key developments that will bring raise the profile of VoIP to new heights.

In fact such has been the impact of VoIP that some have suggested that it may not be long before users can dispense with their traditional landline telephones completely.

Taking a more pragmatic view, there are issues that will need to be addressed before that can happen. In the UK, VoIP providers like Vonage
or VoIPTalk will have to look closely at both security and ease of use, as well as continue to deliver a convenient and financially attractive service. They certainly offer cheap calls now but, what else do they need to do to ensure a bright future for VoIP?

As the Internet is a vast public network the VoIP traffic is no more immune from attack than any other data. Security is a concern for many users, particularly in the business community and the means to increase protection for users would be a welcome step in securing the long-term future of VoIP.

The ease of use issue may not remain an obstacle to progress now that handsets that work on mobile networks and, via WiFi or Bluetooth links, over VoIP are now appearing in the shops. This raises the prospect of using low-cost VoIP services at home, in the office or at a WiFi hotspot, but still retaining the flexibility of mobile coverage when out and about.

Some VoIP providers are now selling these handsets, and have set up joint arrangements with wireless hotspots so that their subscribers can make and receive calls in public places, without the need for a computer.

Expect to see some of the restrictions of such handsets i.e. difficulties in hotspots that use web pages for authentication to be addressed very soon.

The advance of newer networking technologies will further reduce the gap between fixed, mobile and VoIP services. Wireless broadband services, in particular WiMax, could create city-wide wireless hotspots, making it possible to make mobile VoIP calls in much wider areas.

All this bodes well for Internet telephony and it seems that there are some exciting times ahead for the users of VoIP as the market and the technology matures.