everal attempts have been made to develop and commercialize video telephony. Most ventures have proven unsuccessful. However, with the launch of mobile devices featuring front-facing cameras and pre-loaded mobile calling applications, interest in making real-time video calls on mobile phones has reemerged to the point where In-Stat projects mobile video calling revenue will exceed $1 billion by 2015.
"The market for mobile video calling is hardly new," says Frank Dickson, VP, Mobile Internet. "What is new is implementing mobile video calling over IP in a significant way. Apple's launch of the iPhone 4 and Facetime marks the point at which the competition for mobile video calling dominance began in earnest. Apple's capability to revolutionize the mobile video calling market is very real and no one in the ecosystem wants to be left behind."
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- The number of mobile video calling users will grow at a 115% CAGR through 2015.
- Asia/Pacific will consume 53% of the mobile video calling minutes used by 2015.
- Mobile video calling participants of note include Apple, Fring, OoVoo, Qik and Skype.
- By 2015, mobile video calling will result in over 9 exabytes in data traffic in North America.
