![\"WhatsApp](\"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/WhatsApp-voice-calling.jpg\")
<\/a>WhatsApp voice calling<\/p><\/div>\n
Mobile operators not too worried<\/h3>\n
While some industry experts warn of a significant impact on voice revenues, not everyone is worried about WhatsApp voice calling.<\/p>\n
Vodacom spokesperson Richard Boorman<\/strong> said that as long as people are using their smartphones, it\u2019s ultimately a positive for them.<\/p>\n \u201cIf anything, this vindicates the massive investment that we\u2019ve been making in our network with the viability of VoIP services so dependent on the quality of the network connection,\u201d said Boorman.<\/p>\n He added that Vodacom was working towards a model which \u201cworks for all parties and supports continued network investment\u201d.<\/p>\n Cell C CEO Jose dos Santos<\/strong> said that he was not concerned about the impact of free WhatsApp voice calls on the company\u2019s voice revenues.<\/p>\n \u201cThe decline in voice revenue has more to do with prices coming down as a result of competition in the market than the introduction of VoIP services,\u201d said dos Santos.<\/p>\n He added that mobile operators need to embrace OTT players and partner with them to provide customers with added value.<\/p>\n \u201cCell C looks forward to launching WhatsApp\u2019s new voice service on our network,\u201d said dos Santos.<\/p>\n Telkom said that<\/strong> it does not anticipate a major impact on business voice revenues as a result of WhatsApp introducing voice calls to its functionality.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile we are unable to accurately predict the impact on voice call revenues overall, it would be safe to say that impact, if any, will be from the consumer end of the market,\u201d said Jacqui O\u2019 Sullivan, Telkom\u2019s Managing Executive for Group Communication.<\/p>\n She said that Skype and Google Talk have previously introduced voice options through their respective platforms, and then already Telkom was gearing for a more effective data play.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t necessarily see one product or platform having any more of an impact on voice services than any other just yet,\u201d said O\u2019 Sullivan.<\/p>\n MTN believes that<\/strong> voice services will still have a place in the market despite the introduction of new services.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are therefore not too concerned, Wechat and Viber have been around for a long time,\u201d said Larry Annetts, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA.<\/p>\n One of the reasons why mobile operators may not be too concerned about free WhatsApp voice calling is the popularity of integrated packages.<\/p>\n Many contract subscribers are on integrated packages, which include voice and data. If they use less minutes and more data it wouldn\u2019t really impact revenues.<\/p>\n Looking at the prepaid market, smartphone penetration is sitting at around 25% and the impact would mainly be limited to this group.<\/p>\n The impact of WhatsApp voice calling on revenue will be the differential between what they pay for calls, and how much the VoIP data would cost them.<\/p>\n Smart prepaid users can pay as little as 8c per minute with some calling packages. They may therefore still purchase some voice products, and purchase more data for WhatsApp calling.<\/p>\n Big threat to Vodacom, MTN, Cell C here soon<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Free voice calls through Google Hangouts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nWhy free WhatsApp voice impact may be limited<\/h3>\n
More on WhatsApp<\/h3>\n