<p>In C++ the storage class specifier static allocates memory from the data area. What does "data area" mean?</p>

I'm not familiar with the term “data area” but memory is often divided into “code section” and “data section”. Code resides in the former, data in the latter. I presume this is what's meant here.
Classically, there's no distinction between the two. However, many modern operating systems can prohibit the execution of code int he data segment (provided the CPU supports this distinction). This sometimes goes by the catch phrase of “NX flag”, as in “no execution” and can effectively prevent some cases of malicious code injection.
/EDIT: Notice that the C++ standard doesn't mention a “data area”.