The Next Wireless Paradigm: Data Delivery

Guest commentary by Anton Wahlman, a Silicon Valley-based independent investor and consultant to hedge funds and tech/telecom companies and former sell-side equity research analyst covering communications technology companies at UBS (1996-2002), Needham & Company (2002-06) and ThinkEquity (2006-08).

Back in 2003, I argued in a research report that the only way communications carriers could make money in the future was to be the best at delivering data. My prediction was clearly a bit premature.

Now, however, all the stars are aligning to make this an important segment of the consumer market.

In the next year or two, I predict, some of the wireless carriers are likely to offer data-only plans on smartphones for $30 to $60 per month. These plans would include unlimited SMS (text messages) and not block usage of Internet voice/video applications such as Skype. ...