Search Engines and VoIP: Why? - Now That We Know Why, What Can We Expect?
(Page 3 of 4 )
The big point is, search engines and portals cannot ignore VoIP, any more than they could ignore the market for mobile search. While it’s true that so far most people in the U.S. have not been that interested in Web surfing on their cell phones, not all cell phone users are necessarily Internet savvy – or at least, they may not be so Internet- or gadget-savvy that they want to surf on something with such a small screen. That is not as true for VoIP users; by definition, anyone with VoIP has access to a broadband Internet connection.
While there are 200 million people in the U.S. who own cell phones, broadband users in the U.S. number somewhat less – about 63 million or so as of the latter half of last year. And every one of them is a potential candidate for VoIP. Moreover, it can be argued that those 200 million people using cell phones might be VoIP candidates as well. Remember, VoIP costs users less than cell phone service. While cell phones have been around long enough to not be considered “new” anymore, there will always be some fraction of cell phone users who are interested in adding new features that make their phones more useful or convenient to their lifestyle. Why would we see cell phone makers constantly expand the capabilities of their offerings if there was no market?
We already know that many people have signed up for VoIP. If a person can get a service that combined something akin to the convenience of a landline with the portability of a cell phone, and all they needed was a broadband connection (which they might be interested in getting anyway) and enough money to pay, say, $25 a month for unlimited calls across the U.S. and Canada, why wouldn't they sign up? Adding the type of individually targeted search that the various search engines can provide sweetens the deal. The major search engines have surely thought of this; hence the rumors that they are looking for VoIP partners.
Is it possible, though, that some of them might go one step further, to outright acquisition? Some observers have suggested just that. Vonage, as the major player in the VoIP arena, might be too much for any of them to swallow, though the company could make a very good partner for a firm like Google. On the other hand, Vonage has rivals that might prove ripe for purchase.
Take Skype, for example. This Europe-based peer-to-peer VoIP provider gives its users the capability to make free international calls from their PCs. Is this a popular service? You’d better believe it. The company’s website has handled more than a million people using the service at the same time.
In short, no one should be surprised to hear about VoIP partnerships – or even acquisitions – among the major search engines over the next couple of years.
Next: But Will it Work? And What Does it Mean? >>
More Website Promotion Articles
More By Terri Wells
