Wireless market to pass $54b this year

There is good news for brands in the mobile space as US consumers continue to link their devices to the internet via a wireless connection.

And it is not just smartphones, consumers are linking tablets, iPods, GPS units and even e-readers, according to BizReport.

The increase in connectivity is pushing the US wireless market to new heights, with Chetan Sharma estimating the market to surpass $54 billion in 2010.

If Sharma is right, that will be a 25% increase year on year.  Connected device revenue is expected to pass the prepaid segment over the next five years, with a lot of credit going to Apple’s iPad for pushing more consumers and competitors in to the space.

As of September 2010, Samsung is the top handset manufacturer in the field with a 23% market share, although RIM continues to lead the smartphone market with a 37% share, according to comScore figures.

In terms of ownership, comScore data shows that nearly 59 million US consumers owned smartphones at the end of Q3 2010.