• May 11, 2009

U.S. mobile data revenue surpassed $10 billion for the first time in the first quarter of 2009, with nearly two-thirds of cell subscribers using some type of non-voice service, according to a new report from Chetan Sharma Consulting.

The mobile consulting and research firm also sounded an optimistic note, saying the recession had only registered as "a tiny blip" in mobile service growth and projected a 24% overall gain in mobile data revenue for the rest of the year over 2008.

The first-quarter total of $10 billion was up 32% from a year ago and 5% from the prior quarter. Helping to drive those gains was a 27% increase in mobile messaging volume, leading to a 7% quarterly increase in message revenue. In addition to multimedia-friendly smartphones, Chetan Sharma also reported increasing mobile data activity on feature phones.

Among carriers, Sprint had the highest data average revenue per user (ARPU), at $15; followed by Verizon Wireless, with $14.16. Verizon, however, led in net added customers in the quarter with 1.3 million, edging out AT&T, with 1.2 million. Sprint had a net loss of 180,000 customers. While prepaid services helped carriers -- especially Sprint -- add new customers, the firm estimated that 50% to 60% won't go back to being postpaid, or contract, subscribers, "permanently lowering the ARPU base for such customers."

Venture funding in the mobile industry also plunged, falling nearly 60% compared to the year-earlier quarter.--Mark Walsh