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Mobile operators must convert the threat Wi-Fi and VoIP poses to roaming revenues into an opportunity by incorporating the technologies into their strategies. This is one finding of the latest study, Mobile roaming 2006-2011: Increasing usage and revenue to counter regulatory burdens, published by industry analyst firm visiongain.

By adding Wi-Fi capabilities to their offerings, mobile operators will be able to capture a growing market currently targeted at mobile roaming subscribers.

The study also found that the threat of EU regulations will continue to drive roaming prices down in the European Union. This trend is likely to occur globally as operators seek to increase roaming usage as a boost to declining voice revenues. Visiongain believes that price reductions by operators will succeed in driving usage, allowing operators to tap into the 95% of subscribers who currently do not use roaming services whilst abroad.

VoIP through Wi-Fi will become an increasingly attractive alternative to mobile voice calls while roaming due to the disparity in price. Visiongain found that a typical voice call whilst roaming over Wi-Fi costs $0.02 per minute, compared with a typical cost of $1.25 per minute through mobile. The increase in Wi-Fi hot spots worldwide is creating more opportunity for travelers to use VoIP services, therefore, threatening mobile roaming revenues.

In addition, visiongain believes that Nokia's entry into the Wi-Fi market with its converged GSM/Wi-Fi handset, the 6136, is significant because it legitimizes the technology's entry into the mobile handset market.

The report examines the current mobile roaming market, and provides forecasts through to 2011 for roaming subscribers and data and voice revenues, amongst others. The study analyses the roaming strategies of major operators and provides price comparisons for these operators. The report also looks at roaming solutions for mobile operators, and how they can help operators introduce differentiated and value-added roaming services.