For more information, contact:

Cheryl Cadden, Marketing Coordinator
Phone: 480-609-4540; Email: cheryl.cadden@reedbusiness.com

Global VoIP Subscribers to Top 55 Million in 2009

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., January 31, 2006 - The global market for consumer VoIP services has arrived, with total VoIP subscribers worldwide at 16 million in 2005 and projected to grow to over 55 million in 2009, reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). But despite an impressive 62% year-over-year subscriber growth rate in 2005, few consumers have ever heard of the term “VoIP”, the high-tech market research firm says. This indicates providers have to continue to educate the public, and that there is considerable room for market growth.

“Competition in broadband access services is the key driving force behind VoIP market development,” says Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst. “In addition, multiple waves of new entrants, ranging from broadband ISPs and cable MSOs, to Google and eBay will play significant roles.”

A recent report by In-Stat found the following:

• 73% of all VoIP subscribers worldwide have migrated to VoIP without making a conscious buying decision to adopt the new technology.
  
• In North America and Canada, cable operators are aggressively expanding their VoIP footprint, but are marketing VoIP as plain old telephone service.
  
• In Asia, South Korea will have the highest VoIP growth rate, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore.
  
• In Europe, broadband ISPs, such as Free Telecom (France) and FastWeb (Italy) are leading the way with innovative consumer triple-play service bundles.

Recent In-Stat research, Global VOIP Has Arrived; Just Not As Expected! (#IN0502436CT), covers current VoIP markets worldwide, including figures of year-end 2005 subscribers and revenue by major carrier and region. Five-year subscriber and revenue forecasts by region are also presented. The report documents the challenges that ISPs, cable, mobile, and fixed-line carriers face to successfully implement strategies in a dynamic global VoIP market.

For more information, contact:

Keith Nissen, Senior Analyst
Phone: 480-483-4465
Email: keith.nissen@reedbusiness.com

Cheryl Cadden, Marketing Coordinator
Phone: 480-609-4540
Email: cheryl.cadden@reedbusiness.com

About In-Stat

In-Stat’s market intelligence combines technical, market and end-user research and database models to analyze the Mobile Internet and Digital Entertainment ecosystems. Our insights are derived from a deep understanding of technology impacts, nearly 30 years of history in research and consulting, and direct relationships with leading players in each of our core markets. In-Stat provides its research through reports, annual subscriptions, consulting and advisory services to inform critical decisions. Technology and semiconductor vendors, infrastructure and device manufacturers, service providers and media companies worldwide rely on partnerships with In-Stat’s tenured, experienced staff and on our in-depth market intelligence to support critical business, product and technology decisions.

In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $9 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. As a member of Reed Business Information, In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the U.S.