The U.S. wireless market generated $67 billion in mobile data revenues in 2011, a number expected to increase to $80 billion in 2012, according to a new report published by Chetan Sharma Consulting.

The U.S. mobile data market grew 19 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year. Although the U.S. represents just 5 percent of the worldwide subscriber base, it accounts for 17 percent of global service revenues and 21 percent of worldwide mobile data revenues. Data now constitutes more than 85 percent of all mobile traffic across the U.S., with roughly 30 percent of smartphone users averaging more than 1GB per month.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility together accounted for 68 percent of mobile data services revenues in 2011 and control a combined 66 percent of the U.S. subscriber base, Chetan Sharma reports. Verizon led all operators worldwide with $23.7 billion in 2011 mobile data revenues; AT&T trailed with $22 billion.

Overall average revenue per user declined by $0.43 in the fourth quarter of 2011. Average voice ARPU declined by $0.96, while the average data ARPU increased by $0.52. The average industry percentage contribution of data to overall ARPU reached 38.9 percent in the fourth quarter and is expected to surpass 40 percent during the current quarter. Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint Nextel have already eclipsed the 40 percent mark. Chetan Sharma anticipates data revenues will exceed voice revenues in the U.S. market by early 2013.

Although U.S. subscribers send an average of 680 text messages per month--more than any other  market--texting's growth is slowing as IP-based messaging services continue to gain traction. "As expected, this transition will continue around the world at different rates," Chetan Sharma states. "In the U.S., while the change is underway, we don't expect any dramatic declines like in Philippines or the Netherlands in the near-term."

Smartphones accounted for 65 percent of all devices sold nationwide in the fourth quarter of 2011, and the U.S. now drives 40 percent of international smartphone sales. U.S. operators also are averaging 80 percent of their postpaid sales as smartphones. Chetan Sharma notes that while Google's Android dominates sales, Apple's rival iPhone still leads in mindshare.