Mobile VoIP will become a mainstream form of communication by the end of 2012

A new study from a London-based research firm claims that mobile voice-over-IP will become a mainstream form of communication by the end of 2012, based on rapid growth of voice-over-3G wireless users. Disruptive Analysis said its research shows mobile VoIP will eclipse fixed-mobile convergence services that use dual-mode handsets with voice-over-WiFi capabilities.
VoIP has become popular largely because of the cost advantages to consumers over traditional telepone networks. VoIP calls can be placed across the Internet. Most Internet connections are charged using a flat fee structure. Using the Internet connection for both data traffic and voice calls can allow consumers to get rid of one monthly payment. In addition, VoIP plans do not charge a per-minute fee for long distance. For International calling, the monetary savings to the consumer from switching to VoIP technology can be enormous.
Today, Skype, TruPhone and a company called Fring already offer VoIP over 3G smartphones and 3G-enabled laptops allowing users to communicate with other VoIP users via the Internet. This service is expected to provide customers with a cheaper alternative to connecting calls via GSM in the near future.