US residential VoIP subscribers to reach 27 million by 2009

US residential VoIP subscribers to reach 27 million by 2009

LOS ANGELES, April 4 (Xinhua) -- US subscribers to residentialVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services will grow from 3 millionin 2005 to 27 million by the end of 2009, high-tech market researchfirm IDC projected on Monday.

"Residential Voice over Internet Protocol has clearly come intoits own in the US as major telecommunications carriers begin to rollout VoIP service offerings to give themselves a competitive edge, "IDC said in a study released today.

IDC experts also attributed the expected fast growth of VoIPservices partly to consumers looking to add value to their telephonyservice.

Although it has been slow to develop in the US and elsewhere, IDCsaid, VoIP is finally beginning to show its potential in the consumermarket.

The high-tech market research firm believes that much of therecent success in the US market is the result of marketing VoIPservices on the basis of price.

"Carriers will need to educate residential users on the featuresand functions of VoIP service to avoid a pricing war," IDC suggested,adding that integrating applications and enabling convergence arecritical capabilities that carriers will need to offer in the yearsahead.

William Stofega, a senior analyst with IDC, warned that VoIP mustprove that it is more than just a cheap replacement for traditionaltelephone service.

"To do this, carriers will need to offer services that arecompelling and affordable," Stofega said.