Half of US already has smartphones, so mobile carriers push us to spend more

Three major shifts are currently underway in the American cellular landscape. We’re spending record amounts on mobile data, carriers are making hardly any money off new subscribers (hence the push towards data), and usage of Internet-based messaging systems is going through the roof.

With that first shift, according to independent analyst Chetan Sharma, mobile data now accounts for “almost 45 percent of the US mobile industry services revenues, and as we had forecasted a few years back, the cross-over point of 50 percent might occur later this year.” So you’re not just imagining things—your mobile phone bill is creeping upwards. Likely, it’s due to the fact that on your smartphone, you’re using data far more than texting and texting far more than calling.