• by Shankar Gupta , September 14, 2006

U.S. spending on mobile services like video, text messaging, and music will skyrocket in the coming years, soaring to an estimated $37.5 billion in 2010--up from $5.4 billion this year, according to a new eMarketer report.

The report predicted that spending on mobile messaging will account for $15 billion in 2010, up from $3.3 billion this year. Mobile entertainment spending also will reach an estimated $15 billion by 2010--up from $1.1 billion this year--while spending on information services will total $7.5 billion in 2010, compared to $1 billion at present.

eMarketer's report comes on the heels of other data suggesting that mobile content is poised to grow. According to research firm Telephia, more than 3.7 million consumers subscribed to mobile TV in the second quarter--up 45 percent from the first three months of the year, a "meteoric" growth rate.

Several companies have in recent weeks announced new mobile initiatives, as well. The New York Times made its entire Web site available to mobile phones this week, while Clear Channel's flagship station unveiled a new mobile service earlier this month.