GigaOM has an interesting post with a list of mobile VoIP applications, the underlining message being that VoIP is now ready to change the mobile industry and push prices down in the same way as it did in the fixed world, with the wider availability of smartphones, WiFi and 3G mobile broadband serving as a basis to help the market develop to 250m users by 2012.

In a previous post, I already gave my views on VoIP: this is a technology, not a service. I already mentioned that mobile VoIP services such as Skype or Truphone are interesting only for some niche segments doing a lot of long distances or international calls, and it is interesting to see how Om and his team fit well this customer profile:
- They are advanced geeks not afraid to install apps on their phones and change settings. Believe me, this is not mainstream ! They are also happy to accept technical issues and lack of stability of some of these solutions
- They have smartphones that are WiFi enabled and use it for VoIP calls, hence limiting the mobility side of things. And using 3G mobile internet is not free...
- They are a SME with employees/bloggers spread out across the US so they need to do a lot of long distance calls without the luxury of large bundles

I am not against VoIP. As a technology, it will be key in the development of mobile next generation services. As a service though, I am still struggling to see how it can become mass market when you can get unlimited bundles in the US for $80-100 (or family plans with unlimited on-net calls for far less) and very large bundles (we are getting 5 hours and unlimited internet for £30 ($60) now...) in most European countries.

The only trade-off is for long distance/international calls, so seems GigaOM's team fits well the interested niche segment. Who gets cannibalized there, mobile operators or providers of LD/international calling cards? LD cards already almost disappeared in Europe as broadband providers (Carphone, Free,...) use the VoIP technology to offer unlimited national and international calls on their network...