More than 740 billion text messages were sent in the US during the  first half of 2009, a figure that breaks down to approximately 4.1 billion messages per day, according to findings from a semi-annual industry survey from  CTIA-The Wireless Association.

This number is nearly double the number of texts sent during the same period last year, when 385 billion were reported in H108, the wireless-industry association said.

The survey report (pdf), which includes numerous industry statistics from H109 across all US carriers, reveals that the wireless industry continues to grow, and posted six-month revenues of nearly $76 billion, up from just less than $73 million during H108.

The number of estimated mobile subscribers rose as well.  In June 2009, CTIA said there were 276 million wireless users, a year-over-year increase of nearly 14 million  in June 2008.

Data Continues as Bright Spot

In particular, wireless data service revenues showed exceptionally strong year-to-year gains, climbing to more than $19.4 billion for the first half of 2009, CTIA said. This represents a 31% increase over H108.

Wireless data revenues, which represent what consumers spend on non-voice services, accounted for more than 25% of all wireless service revenues, the report said, noting that more than 246 million data-capable devices are in the hands of consumers today. More than 40 million of these devices are Smartphones or wireless-enabled PDAs, and more than 10 million are wireless-enabled laptops, notebooks or aircards.

“The survey results indicate that mobile broadband is an integral part of everyday life for many Americans,” said Steve Largent, President and CEO of CTIA -The Wireless Association. “The wireless ecosystem - infrastructure suppliers, service providers, device manufacturers, operating system providers, and applications developers - are simultaneously working together and competing against one another to generate valuable and unparalleled products and services for consumers.”
Additional survey findings:

• Wireless customers used more than 1.1 trillion minutes in the first half of 2009, up 3% from the same period in 2008. This breaks down to approximately 6.4 billion minutes-of-use per day.

• Wireless subscribers are sending more pictures and other multi-media messages with their mobile devices - more than 10.3 billion MMS messages were reported for the first half of 2009, up from 4.7 billion in mid-year 2008.
• The average local monthly bill is up 2% year-over-year, from $48.54 to $49.57.

• The number of reported cell sites in service is up 11.5% over H108.
• Reported direct carrier wireless employment fell 2.4% year over year, to just more than 261,000.

About the study: The CTIA Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey results were released earlier this month at the International CTIA WIRELESS IT & Entertainment 2009 conference.