The US wireless trade body, CTIA says that wireless data service revenues for the first half of 2007 rose to US$10.5 billion. This represents a 63% increase over the first half of 2006, when data revenues were US$6.5 billion. Wireless data revenues now amount to 15.5% of all wireless service revenues, and represent money that consumers spend on non-voice services.
"American consumers are continuing to turn to wireless for their voice and data needs," said CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent. "As wireless devices continue to evolve to meet ever-changing consumer demands, we are seeing an increase in the number of subscribers who are using wireless to surf the Internet, listen to music, watch video and take photographs. Wireless is the only medium that allows consumers to stay in-touch and connected while on-the-go and its popularity and usefulness continues to grow," continued Largent.
The survey also revealed that text messaging again set new records, with 28.8 billion messages reported in the month of June 2007 alone - almost one billion messages a day. This represents an increase of 130% over June 2006. Wireless subscribers continue to capture and send more pictures and other multi-media messages, sending 2.6 billion MMS messages in the first half of 2007 - almost as many as were sent in all of 2006.
As of June 2007, the industry survey recorded more than 243 million wireless users. This represents a year-over-year increase of almost 24 million subscribers. The industry’s 12-month record for subscriber growth was reached in 2005, when 25.7 million new users came online.
Other highlights of the survey include: wireless customers using more than 1.1 trillion minutes in the first half of 2007, up 18% over the first half of 2006, and generating more than $67 billion in total wireless revenues in six months.
Posted to the site on 24th October 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/26912.php