For the second time in as many weeks, another Mobile VoIP service provider has announced layoffs. Last week EQO announced that it was eliminating 65 positions in wake of the bleak global economic outlooks and now just last Friday Jaxtr announced that it was cutting it staff by 13. Now these cuts do not appear to be as extreme as the ones made at EQO - quite possibly a proactive approach by Jaxtr as they are reporting that they have yet to touch the $10 million in VC funding that they have raised. I’d be a little more worried if they had been burning through their cash too fast, so  this is a great sign for both Jaxtr and the Mobile VoIP industry as one has to wonder about the health of a new industry that is based on being an ultra low cost alternative.

While many of my insiders tell me that economic uncertain could impact many Mobile VoIP providers, I remain optimistic that consumer deman will continue to grow as consumers look to Mobile VoIP as a way to lower their international calling costs. With now start-up costs, lots of tailored calling plans and cheap, cheap minutes, Mobile VoIP should be a growth industry during a <ahem> recession.