Stevens says Verizon and many carriers in Asia have embraced Skype, however, because they realize the service can increase customer loyalty and the amount consumers spend on mobile data plans even if it dents their long distance calling business.
FORBES: Skype Seeking Mobile Partnerships In Quest For One Billion Users
Messaging accounted for approximately 31% of total data revenues in the fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease compared to 32% in the third quarter of 2011 and 36% in the fourth quarter of 2010 related to a shift in the data revenue mix towards mobile broadband data plans.
ENGADGET: T-Mobile lost more customers in Q4, will launch LTE in 2013 with AWS spectrum from AT&T
The Dealnews list of 11 Things That Will Be More Expensive in 2012 contained only one reference to mobile: data plans.
CNN: Analyst: iPads, Kindles, GPS units to be cheaper in 2012
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the increase in the number of customers using smartphones, along with T-Mobile USA's continued upgrade of its 3G and 4G networks helped drive Internet access revenue growth through the increased customer adoption of mobile broadband data plans.
ENGADGET: T-Mobile lost more customers in Q4, will launch LTE in 2013 with AWS spectrum from AT&T
"The 'more you share, the more you save' concept is one that will resonate well with customers because of the value provided through the Mobile Share data plans themselves and in smartphone connection fees, " said Roger Entner, Founder and Lead Analyst of Recon Analytics.
ENGADGET: AT&T unveils Mobile Share, lets you add 10 devices to a single plan
Facebook is a key reason why people in emerging markets are adding data plans on mobile, said Smith.
FORBES: Facebook: Mobile Growth Takes Off in Emerging Markets
U.S. mobile service provider Verizon recently announced prepaid data plans for most of its smartphones and feature phones.
Both wireless carriers and mobile subscribers currently are saddled with data caps: price plans limiting the amount of data customers can access depending on their payment plan.
For wireless operators, the business apps could lead to more sales of devices, data plans and consulting deals to help companies manage their mobile work forces.
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission published a working document that urged developers of mobile apps for children to provide more information on data collection and said it plans to review whether apps violate child privacy laws.
Operators say the exploding demand for mobile data makes charging customers by the byte a more viable option than offering unlimited plans.
FORBES: Verizon Sends Subscribers Fact Sheets To Educate About Data Charges
Starting this month, T-Mobile customers will be able to sign up for no-contract plans that include unlimited data.
Yin notes that with Verizon shifting away from unlimited plans, Sprint is the only national carrier with a reasonably priced unlimited mobile data plan.
FORBES: Apple: Sprint iPhone Could Arrive Soon, Analyst Contends
As I wrote last year, perhaps the most important development in the U.S. mobile landscape in 2011 was that all but one of the major carriers have abandoned unlimited data plans in favor of tiered service.
CNN: Analyst: iPads, Kindles, GPS units to be cheaper in 2012
Mobile Share plans give customers more control over how, where and on what device they use data - which has become more important as people use more data devices.
ENGADGET: AT&T unveils Mobile Share, lets you add 10 devices to a single plan
Through its affordable, flat-rate service plans, Cricket offers customers a choice of unlimited voice, text, data and mobile Web services.
ENGADGET: Leap Wireless, T-Mobile strike deal to swap spectrum, pending FCC approval
Also, as more Chinese telecom companies, such as China Mobile and China Telecom, jump in on the opportunity to tap the growing demand for data-intensive plans that iPhone users are likely to use, they will try and subsidize the smartphones for their consumers in return for long-term contracts.
FORBES: Apple Has A Plum With China Passing U.S. As Largest Smartphone Market
Current T-Mobile customers on Classic or Value plans can simply upgrade their existing service by adding an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan.
ENGADGET: T-Mobile launching 'truly unlimited' 4G data service add-on September 5th (Update)
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