Ask a bunch of people what the most important feature on their mobile phone is and you will get a bunch of different answers. Some users think text support is the most important, for others it’s a camera, and for some it’s Wi-Fi.

According to new information from ABI Research, phones featuring Wi-Fi are doubling the number shipped every two years. The research firm expects 144 million Wi-Fi handsets to ship in 2009.

That number could grow to as high as 300 million by 2011. The big push for Wi-Fi handsets is thanks to the consumer’s desire for connectivity. This is a good thing for mobile providers as well who can offer Wi-Fi as a way to relieve some of the workload from their 3G networks.

[via ABI Research]