CAMPBELL, Calif. -- Worldwide next gen voice equipment revenue hit a new high in 2005, topping $2.5 billion, a 50% jump over 2004, and is projected to increase 145%, reaching $6.2 billion in 2009, according to Infonetics Research's latest Service Provider Next Gen Voice and IMS Equipment report.

All equipment categories in the next gen voice market are up year over year, and all but media servers and Class 5 softswitches are up for the quarter.

The number of residential and SOHO VoIP subscribers continues to skyrocket around the world as well; in 2005, there were:

14.2 million subscribers in Asia Pacific, growing 251% to 49.9 million in 2009

5.4 million subscribers in EMEA, growing 683% to 42.5 million in 2009

4.3 million subscribers in North America, growing 800% to almost 39.0 million in 2009

"2005 was a watershed year for next gen voice, with VoIP subscriber uptake moving at a torrid pace, and numerous incumbents around the world committing to long-term migration projects that will lead to increased legacy switch removal and more next gen voice equipment deployments," said Stéphane Téral, directing analyst at Infonetics Research.

"We're keeping a close eye on the emerging IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) architecture, which moved from hype to trial stage in 2005," Téral continued. "We track several IMS products now, and as the haze around IMS clears and new products begin shipping, we will track more equipment in this important new segment