Facts About Cell Phones

According to statistics from various sources:

• At the end of September 2006, the world's cell phone subscribers reached 2.5 billion, from 2 billion in September 2005, representing the fastest adoption of half a billion subscribers, one year, according to research from Wireless Intelligence.
• By the end of 2007, the world's cell phone subscribers will reach over 3 billion, according to research from the Wireless Intelligence
• According to CTIA, the number of cell phone subscribers in the United States by September 2006 was 219.4 million, up from 25 million in 1994.
• 72% of the U.S. population own cell phones, according to the CTIA.
• Approximately 8.4% of U.S. households are relying exclusively on wireless for their telephone service as of 2006, up from 6.1% at the end of 2005, according to CTIA.
• The average user replaces his or her cell phone every 18 months.
• Nationwide, 130 million cellular phones go out of use annually, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That creates an estimated 65,000 tons of electronic garbage.
• According to M:Metrics, a student's mobile phone bill ranges from $41 to $60 per month, but 57.5% of students are on family plans and don't pay the bills themselves.
• According to the CTIA, as of mid-year 2006, the average monthly wireless bill in the US was less than $50.00.
• It might be of use to someone else. Many charities will collect cell phones for fundraising or to give directly to people who need them.
• Federal government statistics on wireless use indicated more than 51% of rural American households had wireless phones, compared to 54% of all America households.
• According to comScore Networks, 19% of U.S. Internet users access the web from their mobile devices.
• By the middle of 2006, almost half of wireless customers in the U.S. were using some form of wireless data when surfing the wireless web, sending text and photo-messages, or downloading and playing games, ring tones, or music files.
• In-Stat indicates that 15% of wireless customers in the U.S. carry two devices.
• According to Cincinnati.com, Cell phone ownership among 12- to 14-year-olds increased from 13 percent in February 2002 to now more than 50 percent. More than 36 percent of all 11- to 14-year-olds own their own cell phone, more than 14 percent own personal digital assistants and more than 15 percent own a hand-held Internet device.