iGR’s modelling suggests that light mobile data users consumed approximately 5.9MB per user per month in 2006. Medium users consumed approximately 17.7MB per user per month, and heavy mobile data users consumed about 44.4MB. The mobile applications used in the models range from email and web browsing to virtual private network logins and instant messaging.

In total those sent and received more than 0.73 terabytes (TB) per month of data. And by 2011, iGR forecasts this number to increase to 6.94TB — an increase of 857% in less than five years. “This study provides a frame of reference within which mobile operators can evaluate the future price of their mobile data packages as a result of IMS implementation and adoption,” says Matt Vartabedian, research manager at iGR.

“The report also provides a concrete way to discuss applications that have yet not yet been commercially implemented ? it goes beyond the ‘IMS is push-to-talk’ stereotype.”

By implementing an IMS platform, service providers gain a common, central and secure service development framework and architecture that operates across multiple network domains. In essence, IMS allows for network and service evolution versus network and service revolution, and allows the mobile service provider to avoid simply providing a “dumb pipe” data service.