U.S. Wireless Data $24.5 Billion in 2007

U.S. wireless customers spent $24.5 billion on data services in 2007, with usage growing 55 percent, says consultant Chetan Sharma.

Growth increased steadily through the year, with fourth-quarter 2007 data services revenues hitting $6.9B. At current rates, the only question is how much above $28 billion will be spent in 2008.

Fourth quarter data revenue was up 7.8 percent sequentially. Average revenue per user .declined by $0.81 and reversed the trend of overall ARPU uptick of the last two quarters, though.

Average voice ARPU declined by almost $1.50 while average data ARPU inched up by $0.68, Sharma says.

Verizon and AT&T grew annual data revenue 64 percent. Overall, the top carriers earn about 19.34 percent of total revenue.

Non-messaging data revenues continue to be in the 50 to 60 percent range of toal data revenues.