Voice over Wireless Local Area Network Devices Set to Provide Flexible Work Environment

The North American voice over wireless local area network (VoWLAN) device market continued to grow in 2007 with a 26.1 percent growth over 2006. Though the demand for VoWLAN is dependent upon the availability of wireless local area network (WLAN) infrastructure, enterprises are recognizing the need for on-site mobile voice communications and ensuring that their WLANs are voice-compatible. Today, regardless of the type of organization, VoWLAN solutions are significantly being perceived as essential to enhance communication, improve efficiency and productivity, and create a flexible work environment.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that the market earned revenues of $110.5 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $2.15 billion in 2014.

Although market growth has been fueled by the deployment of single-mode devices implemented by verticals or industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education, VoWLAN-enabled dual-mode phones are expected to be the main drivers of the overall VoWLAN growth. At this point, 71 percent of the revenues are expected to come from VoWLAN-enabled dual-mode devices," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Alaa Saayed.

Dual-mode VoWLAN devices geared towards the enterprise expect to penetrate the enterprise space in the coming two to three years, to finally surpass the market of single-mode devices in 2012. As enterprise IP telephony matures, the possibility of extending IP voice throughout the WLAN and leveraging IP telephony systems has been on the rise.

"The general 'Mobility Revolution', the growing penetration of WLAN networks, the increased availability of advanced single-mode and dual-mode handsets, and the progress of newly developed industry standards such as 802.11n, are the main factors driving the penetration of VoWLAN devices," notes Saayed.

"Although the market is showing several growth opportunities within enterprise wireless communications, restraints such as the high cost of handsets, slow ratification of standards, and the availability of cheaper mobile communications - such as flat cellular plans and softphones - could result in slow revenue growth for VoWLAN device vendors," adds Saayed. "Furthermore, multiple challenges such as the cost of introducing a VoWLAN mobility solution, the misconceptions built around wireless security and QoS, and the lack of proper business models around VoWLAN-enabled dual-mode phones, may further deter future profit margins."

The perceived lack of security in wireless LANs is a major issue that persists despite the creation of new encryption methods. There is a need for wireless carriers and service providers to develop sustainable business models as well as institute efficient and accurate billing processes in order to be able to implement VoWLAN-enabled dual-mode telephony. Despite the hype, fixed-mobile convergence has gained little penetration in the enterprise market so far.

Posted to the site on 4th December 2008