We often talk about how the evolution of wireless broadband networks, the smartphone, and concepts such as Google Voice are going to change everything. Specifically, the rise of mobile VoIP and a multitude of push IM smartphone clients mean the death of not only expensive carrier SMS services -- but of the entire concept of voice "minutes." While the industry may stubbornly refuse this concept, they're slowly realizing that their counter move to this evolution is to simply charge consumers more money elsewhere, be that in the form of hidden below the line fees, higher prices for wireless data, or higher early termination fees.

But the death of wireless voice minute pricing is going to be a sluggish affair, as carriers try to slow the organic evolution of the market out of their fear of becoming "dumb pipe" carriers. That of course includes forcing data-only users to buy voice minute bundles, or other restrictions. They'll probably be able to stall these changes well into the introduction of next-generation 4G wireless broadband networks, notes Network World. Phil Redman, an analyst for Gartner research, notes that the evolution away from the idea of voice minutes is going to be particularly slow to arrive for more rural users:And should carriers want to be stubborn and cling to the idea of minutes, users will flock to third party phone applications that offer dirt cheap voice calling. As SMS and voice revenues plummet over the next five years the real question is going to be just how much you're going to have to pay for that wireless data connection.