We’re using our phones more and more. But using our phone satellites less and less.
ABI Research estimates that over 7 trillion SMS messages will be sent in 2011, from 4.2 billion mobile phones. And as more and more customers move to smartphone capabilities, Internet browsing, multimedia viewing and e-mail messaging are becoming mainstream phone activities as well.
Note that none of these features actually use phone satellites, but rather, a wireless carrier’s data system. The evolution of our phone experience is creating a necessary evolution of our wireless infrastructure too.
But at least these phone satellites can still handle the calls we do make, right? Not if we decide to use Google Voice or Skype to save money. Those phone call systems use a data connection, too.