CTIA announced that wireless data service revenues for the first half of 2008 rose to $14.8 bln. This represents a 40% increase over the first half of 2007, when data revenues totaled $10.5 bln. Wireless data revenues now amount to 20% of all wireless service revenues, and represent money that consumers spend on non-voice services. Text messaging again set new records, with 75 bln messages reported in the month of June 2008 alone – about 2.5 bln messages a day. This represents an increase of 160% over the 28.8 bln messages reported in June 2007. Wireless subscribers continue to capture and send more pictures and other multi-media messages, more than 5.6 bln MMS messages in the first half of 2008 – almost as many as were sent in all of 2007.
As of June 2008, the industry survey recorded more than 262 mln wireless users. This represents a year-over-year increase of nearly 20 mln subscribers. The industry’s 12-month record for subscriber growth was reached in 2005, when 25.7 mln new users came online. Other highlights of the survey include: wireless customers using more than 1.12 trln minutes in the first half of 2008, up 10.9% over the first half of 2007, and generating more than $72 bln in total wireless revenues in six months.