Report: healthcare market, broadband provider promotions to boost WiFi-VoIP handset growth

When you go VoIP, you essentially have three equipment choices: hook up your existing phone to your router and your broadband connection; use a microphone and softphone emulator, ortalk through aVoIP handset.

That last alternative is the least used, but one which is finding favor - especially for Wi-Fi VoIP.

Wi-Fi Phones Annual Worldwide Market Size and Forecastis justout today from Infonetics Research.

The report says that in 2004, worldwide Wi-Fi VoIP handset revenue totaled $45 million on sales of 113,000.

My colleague Ben Charny sees this level as not adding up to much. True, but it's early.

Infoneticsenvisions the future of Wi-Fi VoIP handsets boosted by growth in specific enterprise applications, such as healthcare. The Bromley, U.K.-based firm also sees growth in the consumer space, as broadband providers increasingly market VoIP services and wireless gateways bundled with a broadband connection.

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