With the wireless carriers' emphasis – some would say obsession – with ARPU, the growth of the wireless data market is proving to be a huge boost to the industry. According to the Yankee Group, there were nearly 47 million wireless data users in the U.S. by mid-2004, compared with 29 million a year earlier. The consulting firm expects wireless data sales will surpass US$4-billion in 2004.
Most of the revenue has come from applications such as ring tones, games, screen savers, e-mail and photos. In 2005, video could be the next “hot” app in the consumer market based on the marketing activities of carriers in the key fourth-quarter sales season. New devices should also be an important theme as suppliers such as Research in Motion and Palm drive deeper in the pro-sumer sectors, while Asian rivals such as Samsung, LG and Kyocera come out with new technology.