Numerous attempts, since the early 1960s, have been made to develop and commercialize video telephony products and services. Most ventures have since proven to be 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.
In-Stat forecasts that 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 at In-Stat.
He adds, "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."
In-Stat's market study found the following:
- The number of mobile video calling users will grow at a 115 percent CAGR through 2015.
- Asia-Pacific will consume 53 percent of the mobile video calling minutes used by 2015.
- Mobile video calling participants of note include Apple, Fring, OoVoo, Qik and Skype.
- In 2015, mobile video calling will result in over 9 exabytes in data traffic in North America alone.