Wi-Fi has now started to show up in a device once off-limits to the technology, the cellular handset. More than 20 cellular handset models now have, or will soon be released with embedded Wi-Fi access. A few cellular carriers are even planning to offer services that support voice calls over both cellular and Wi-Fi, and some Wi-Fi/Cellular handsets are incorporating VoIP clients for services like Skype. Owners of this type of handset can even enjoy the benefits of Wi-Fi VoIP service without their cellular carrier even offering VoWLAN service.
This report looks at Wi-Fi/Cellular handsets and technology, and explores the motivation by cellular carriers to enter this market. This report contains five-year forecasts for Wi-Fi/Cellular handsets broken-out by voice/data and consumer/business. In addition, a forecast of the number of Wi-Fi voice users of these phones is included.
Wi-Fi was at first ignored by cellular carriers for fear that Wi-Fi data use by customers would take away potential revenue that cellular carriers hoped to get from cellular data services, but Wi-Fi has spread so fast that cellular carriers can no longer ignore the technology.