The service enables users to download items such as wallpaper, ringtones and games. The extra-cost service also includes an instant messaging client. The service was launched in September, 2002 and the company said in a statement it expects to surpass 200 million downloads by the end of June.
Growth of the service has been particularly strong in the last year, with 120 million downloads, according to the company. In addition, downloads of games doubled in the first five months of 2005 compared to the same timeframe last year, with more than 22.5 million downloaded this year. That represents nearly half of all the games downloaded since the service was started, the company said.
"We moved beyond the early adopter crowd a long time ago and are increasingly reaching the broader consumer and enterprise markets," John Stratton, Verizon Wireless' vice president and chief marketing officer said in a statement.