Top three VoLTE (Voice over LTE) vendors in first quarter of 2012 are Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks.
Dell'Oro Group said VoLTE projects have begun to positively impact the carrier telephony market.
"The two main infrastructure components needed to build VoLTE services have been delivered by several vendors over the past few quarters, benefitting Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks and Mavenir Systems. We expect multiple operators will launch VoLTE services by the end of 2012 after they have tested their networks when affordable handsets are available," said Chris DePuy, Analyst at Dell'Oro Group.
"Just as important, there are signs that operators will be launching revenue-generating services such as video conferencing, location services, messaging and file sharing in the coming year. These new communication services will represent the first major wireless operator responses to the threats posed by over-the-top services that have been enabled by smartphones," DePuy added.
Three major technical components are needed to launch commercial VoLTE services:
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Call Session Control Function (CSCF) - overall licenses more than quadruple versus the year-ago quarter, driven by VoLTE.
VoLTE-capable Wireless Voice Application Servers (VAS) - 1Q12 was the first quarter of revenues in tens of millions.
Handsets with Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) capabilities - shipments expected in 2H12.