The 2011 Mobile Year in Review – Report

Interesting report coming from MobileFuture. According to it, the mobile space in 2011 saw profound growth and a vast array of new wireless innovations and services emerge. Their annual video (“The 2011 Mobile Year in Review”) takes a look at the major accomplishments and ground-breaking developments in the wireless space last year. Among the key highlights:

1. Whopping increase in app creation and downloads:

•  ONE BILLION apps downloaded worldwide each month
•  $3 BILLION paid by Apple alone to independent apps developers.

2. Surge in use of social media mobile platforms:

• 166 PERCENT increase in Facebook Mobile users in the first half of 2011 alone.
• 103 MILLION wireless tweets were posted each day
• ONE BILLION Foursquare check-ins.
• 26 PHOTOS were made “hipstery” on Instagram every second

3. Ongoing explosion in data traffic: 

• EIGHT TRILLION texts were sent – up 1.1 trillion from last year
• 1800 PERCENT increase in traffic on US networks in four years

4. Unprecedented competition and choice:

• MORE SMARTPHONES purchased than PCs in the United States
• MORE WIRELESS SUBSCRIPTIONS than people
• TWO BILLION networked mobile devices by 2015
• 4G SERVICES being rolled out by at least six carriers in 2011 alone

5. Massive potential for job creation and economic growth:

• 2.4 MILLION American jobs supported by wireless
• $27.5 BILLION investment in U.S. mobile networks by wireless carriers
• 500,000 JOBS & $400 BILLION to U.S. GDP from building out 500 MHz of additional spectrum for mobile