The total number of active video calling users will surge over the next five years, expanding more than five-fold, from a 2010 total of 63 million to more than 380 million in 2015, according to new research from NPD-InStat. Diffusion from PCs – via which the vast bulk of video calling to date has occurred – to screens both larger and smaller – TVs and mobile devices, respectively – will drive the expansion, the market research firm says.
“While the mobile arena is relatively nascent, it has fueled much of the growth in usage over the course of 2011,” NPD-InStat senior analyst Amy Cravens commented. “The entry of players with significant market presence has been critical in pushing mass adoption in mobile video calling. Currently, the living room market is still quite small; however, In-Stat expects to see significant developments in this market in the coming years.”
Among the key findings in the report, entitled, “Video Calling Across Screen Types: PC, Mobile, and Living Room,” are the following:
- PC video calling will continue to account for the majority of video calling minutes throughout the forecast period.
- Skype is the market leader in video calling solutions across screen types: PC, mobile, and TV.
- Integration with other applications, particularly social networking, will be a significant market driver.
- Active usage rates vary significantly across screen types.
