According to Red Herring and ChangeWave Research, "Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) appears to be a popular alternative to traditional home telephone services. But just how quickly are consumers adopting this technology? And which companies are winning and losing share in the VoIP market? During the week of June 28 � July 5, 2005, we surveyed 1,901 ChangeWave Alliance members on their personal experience with VoIP technology and service providers. We note that the ChangeWave Alliance is primarily composed of early technology adopters. Bottom Line: The survey results show home VoIP use surging in both the local and long distance telephone markets. A total of 14 percent of respondents now report they use VoIP at home � double the amount in our September 2004 survey, while another 22 percent say they plan on using it at home within the next year. Importantly, VoIP is no longer considered a supplementary home phone service � half of current VoIP users now report they use it as their primary or only home telephone service. Another positive indicator was found among respondents who report they are likely to change their home long distance providers in the next six months. Within this group, three-in-ten (30 percent) say they plan to switch to Stand Alone VoIP � 9 points more than previously."
What was once a simple, unidirectional flow of electricity from centralized power plants to passive consumers is evolving into a complex, intelligent network where millions of distributed resources actively participate in grid operations. This transformation, powered by smart grid technologies, represents one of the most significant infrastructure shifts of our time. It promises to reshape how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. At its core, the smart grid represents far more than mere digitization of existing infrastructure. This bi-directional capability is fundamental to understanding why smart grids are becoming the backbone of modern energy systems, facilitating everything from real-time demand response to the integration of renewable energy sources. Smart Grid Market Development By 2030, smart grid technologies are projected to cover nearly half of the global electrical grid, up dramatically from just 24 percent in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by explosive gr...