Bundling VoIP Connections With Cable or DSL Broadband Is A Winning Service Combination in Many Asia-Pacific Markets

Although carriers first introduced VoIP as a cost-effective alternative to conventional long-distance services, the toll bypass opportunity of VoIP has become less pronounced in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the Yankee Group report, SIP-Based VoIP Gains Converts in Asia-Pacific. As telcos continue to refine their VoIP game plans, the rise of broadband internet in Asia-Pacific provides ever-increasing demand.

The early success of BB phone from Yahoo! BB in Japan launched a new chapter for VoIP. Many service providers are replicating the Yahoo! BB model, which bundles a VoIP connection with cable or DSL broadband service. Investing in voice technology over broadband will become commonplace. SingTel is one of the pacesetters, and its strategic agreement with SIPphone to deliver SIP-based VoIP services is intriguing. More importantly, in addition to creating new revenue streams, SingTel’s strategy envisions the integration of voice and data communications.

«With the convergence of voice, data and video, VoIP will foster new services through collaborative computing,» says Agatha Poon, Yankee Group Telecommunication Strategies Asia-Pacific senior analyst. «This will speed up the fixed-to-mobile convergence as equipment vendors are racing to deploy IP-based handheld devices, such as PDAs and mobile phones. In the end, the number of applications associated with VoIP will play a role in influencing the ROI for VoIP deployment.»

«The deployment of innovative technology is only one part of a business equation. Users do not care about technology. Rather, they are focused on the tactical solutions used to address their problems. To succeed, service providers must define business value based on market needs and expectations and communicate clearly to specific market segments,» says Poon.

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