The future of mobile data services

Summary form only given. This paper identifies trends in the American mobile data services market and presents forecasts for prevailing prices both retail and wholesale - in the 2015 timeframe. For purposes of this study, mobile data services consist of messaging and switched data services (including Internet access) offered over cellular/personal communications service networks. The paper is organized as follows. Initially, we provide information on the mobile data market as it exists today and how it is expected to develop over the next few years. Then we describe the supply side; that is, how telecommunications companies are planning to provide mobile data services and the expected pricing trends. In addition, we address the demand side - the expected consumer demand for mobile data services and projections on consumer willingness to pay. Finally, we provide conclusions and forecasts resulting from the analysis.