A new study published by Harris Interactive and mobile VoIP company Rebtel reveals some interesting statistics regarding measured U.S. consumer sentiment on international calling services and providers.
One of more surprising stats from the report compared the use of international calling and VoIP services by men and women. Of those who make international phone calls, men are more likely than women to do so via their computer through software based services like Skype (31% vs. 19% respectively). The survey also reports that men are more likely than women to say that if they were going to change the way they make international phone calls they would switch to use their mobile phone VoIP service/application (10% vs. 2% respectively).
Men are also more likely than women to make video calls (16% vs. 11% respectively). Of men and women who do make video calls, men are also more likely than women to be willing to pay a monthly fee to be able to do so (42% vs. 24% respectively).
From adults surveyed who make international calls, the majority do so using a landline (51%), either a traditional landline service provider (42%) and/or a VoIP service such as Vonage (12%). Another 44% make international phone calls via their mobile phones, through carrier calling rates (25%), special long distance packages (20%), and/or a VoIP service/application (9%). Another 25% of those who make international phone calls do so using their computer through software based services like Skype, while 20% use calling cards and 4% use something else.
Harris says that one in four U.S. adults make international calls and of those who spend money to make such calls, the average spend is approximately $34 every month. With an estimated 235 million U.S. adults, this works out to roughly 58.8 million Americans shelling out nearly $1.98 billion on international calls outside of the U.S. monthly and $23.8 billion annually.
Hispanic respondents led the way in international calls with 36% saying they make them, whereas only 26% of the Black/African American respondents said they make calls internationally. That data is not particularly surprising, but it does show that there is an opportunity to develop international calling apps for this demographic.
Rebtel is the world’s second largest mobile VoIP company. The company is growing at a rapid pace and has more than 20 million users and a minute run rate of over 1 billion per year. The company is profitable and hit $85 million in revenue in 2012. Rebtel users can make free app to app calls as well as call any non-Rebtel users for 98% less compared to an average operator using apps for iPhone, Android, Android Tablets, iPad,...
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