Mobile phone subscriptions hit 3.3 billion

Just last month we heard that there were some 2.68 billion mobile accounts currently active in the world, but a new study by Informa has found that there are actually 3.3 billion subscriptions. This number is somewhat significant considering that it's approximately half of the world's population, but alas, not half of all Earthlings actually own a cellphone. Researchers found that 59 countries had mobile penetration over 100 percent, suggesting that some individuals actually accounted for numerous mobile subscriptions. Sure, the figures here could be picked apart in a myriad ways, but why not just raise your handset to commemorate hitting the big three point three? You are one of them, right?

[Image courtesy of W3]

[Joe @ Nov 29th 2007 4:03PM]

I guess it's time to get one.. finally

[Richard Lai @ Nov 29th 2007 4:08PM]

It's just women in the photo... Are they waiting for the "ladies only" carriage in Tokyo?

[JB @ Nov 29th 2007 8:10PM]

Better that they are there and not driving while asian, female and texting.

[Richard Lai @ Nov 29th 2007 8:18PM]

JB: Asians? Street racing is quite big in Japan and Hong Kong. Not sure about China but they do have rally tracks.

[Kamokazi @ Nov 30th 2007 8:49AM]

It's a common joke/stereotype here in the US that Asians are poor drivers (true or not), as well as women of any race. So combine all that and it's a rather funny comment (at least I thought so), with no true insult meant. If you want to take insult in a lighthearted joke though, be my guest.

[Richard Lai @ Nov 30th 2007 8:55AM]

Kamokazi: I know it's just a joke (I wasn't offended by that either; I'd kill myself if I was), but I don't quite understand where that joke come from. I'm just curious, that's all. In the UK, the only bad drivers are pensioners and sometimes women (you've read all the GPS-related UK driving accidents here I assume). You can see that it's weird for me to picture the joke though. :p

[Kamokazi @ Nov 30th 2007 11:47AM]

I think it's from the older crowd that migrated here, not the younger ones involved in racing-many Asian countries typically have to drive much slower due to the road coditions (pedestrians, narrow roads, etc) and in turn they tend to drive slower than the speed limits here. So not bad drivers necessarily, but you may say a few four letter words if you get caught behind one on a two-lane road. I have also heard comments in jest about slanted eyes affecting their vision as well (which is of course completely absurd, but makes for additional humor).

But anyway, that's where I think it comes from. And I have been caught behind slow, older Asian drivers, so it's not completely unfounded.

[Richard Lai @ Nov 30th 2007 11:53AM]

Kamokazi: "I have also heard comments in jest about slanted eyes affecting their vision as well"

That really made my day! :D LOL At least we don't need sunglasses on a relatively bright day. ;)

[JB @ Nov 30th 2007 6:09PM]

Yes, was intended as a joke. The "texting" part was just to round out the colloquialism.

[darkstar @ Nov 29th 2007 4:32PM]

yep.
some of us have a phone for work, family, and a miss or two ;-)

[T-Bone @ Nov 29th 2007 4:30PM]

Yep. One of my girlfriend's friends has her own cellphone apart from the family's plan for talking to the boyfriend her parents don't want her to have.

[Rainier @ Nov 29th 2007 4:33PM]

That's one small phone for man....one giant industry for mankind.

[athousandleaves @ Nov 29th 2007 4:54PM]

So this means that about 50% of the world has a cellphone?

[riffrocker134 @ Nov 29th 2007 4:59PM]

@ athousandleaves

no, like the article said, multiple people have multiple phones.

[athousandleaves @ Nov 29th 2007 5:02PM]

ugh, i should really get more sleep and read the whole article before posting in the future...

[McGinley @ Nov 29th 2007 5:15PM]

You did it again.

[Yubastard @ Nov 29th 2007 5:14PM]

oh noes! no sir, I have broadband Internet but I ain't got no goddamn cellphone, bitch!

naaaw, just kiddin'! :) I just can't imagine someone reading Engadget and NOT having a cellphone...

I just did raise mine in victory!

[Mike @ Nov 29th 2007 5:53PM]

"I just can't imagine someone reading Engadget and NOT having a cellphone..."

It's not that hard. Just look at me and you won't even have to imagine anymore.

[ethana2 @ Nov 30th 2007 1:46AM]

Wireless internet and VoIP is the future.

Microwave band ant-net-neutrality dial-up? Pass.

[patrick @ Nov 29th 2007 5:28PM]

i read this little blurb as i sat down at my desk to prepare what is now phone number two on my hip. god bless america.

[David @ Nov 29th 2007 9:55PM]

No, god bless the Chinese for manufacturing them for so cheap. :O

[ethana2 @ Nov 30th 2007 1:47AM]

I hope your phones are supported by bitpim.

[Raimo @ Nov 29th 2007 5:30PM]

I'd guess there are tons of people with two or even more mobile phone subscriptions. I know many have a separate work/personal phone and at least many of my friends have several subscriptions in different countries because they've been staying there for a while and bought a local pre-paid sim. I also have 3 (a monthly subscription and a pre-paid in finland and a pre-paid in italy)...

[andy @ Nov 29th 2007 5:39PM]

Well, you can probably take severl off of that.

I have a voice plan (personal) and a data plan (work) and ATT refuses to combine the two without some grease money (200 bucks plus the price of the PDA).

So if you count the other 30 or so in my office, in my boat you can take that off the total.

I doubt we're alone.

Actually, considering the way Europe is set up, the US is probably alone, but I'll bet we're not the only office in the US with this issue.

[vdogg89 @ Nov 29th 2007 5:51PM]

i recently went to romania, and everyone there has 2 cellphones becuase its cheaper to get 2 rather than add minutes to their plan

[Matt @ Nov 29th 2007 6:17PM]

I work for a UK mobile company and seriously you see people with 6 mobile phones plus sometimes, 2-3 is a norm.

[Lionel @ Nov 29th 2007 7:05PM]

Yeh, I work in a Hotel/Motel and alot of the prostitutes that come in have 2 or 3 mobile phones.

[blarvh @ Nov 29th 2007 7:13PM]

Because everyone knows carrying 2 phones and keys in your hands while talking loud into a handsfree headset is cool

[ace @ Nov 29th 2007 7:15PM]

i have 3 lines :P

[Paris @ Nov 29th 2007 9:00PM]

Also a lot of people, including me, have multiple mobile numbers for multiple countries. It makes sense to get a local number if you'll be visiting a country a lot.

[Edward Newgate @ Nov 29th 2007 9:27PM]

Woohoo!! No cellphone for me. I approach mobile phones the same as i approach watches. A leash that is for the most part unnecessary.

[ethana2 @ Nov 30th 2007 1:53AM]

Tablet PC + blue tooth headset with a WiMax card and GPS unit? Good man.

Once I get enough money I'll be doing the same thing.

[majortom @ Nov 29th 2007 9:45PM]

3.3 billion phone lines, most of which cost at least $50 per month. Two hundred that get good reception... kinda the definition of insanity......

can you hear me? can you hear me now? how about now?.....

[Timerider @ Nov 30th 2007 2:29PM]

Not everyone has a stupid monthly plan.

[Valgas @ Nov 29th 2007 10:29PM]

I have a dual SIM mobile and a CDMA mobile so this makes me a 3x subscriber which means i must be important right?

[Danish Munir @ Nov 30th 2007 12:04AM]

In Pakistan an India where over 80% of subscribers use prepaid or what you call in the US 'to-go' connections, the number of connections per subscriber is phenomenally higher than in the US. This may surprise people paying absurdly high rates here, but the cost of acquiring a new connection is often zero, or sometimes negative (i.e they PAY you to get a new connection). Not only that, the rates are much much lower (think 3-5 cents/min), with no contract, no fixed monthly or annual charges.

US carriers have it really really good.

[ethana2 @ Nov 30th 2007 1:56AM]

Really good?
250 Million pissed subscribers
Android rolling in
and Google ready to stomp the 700MHz auction
...with skype and wengo around the corner the second we get net-neutral wireless connections...

They'll pay for whatever travesties they've committed; it's just a matter of time.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 30th 2007 12:59AM]

That's a heck of a lot of iPhones.

I see a number of people walking around with several cellphones on their belts. Probably has something to do with the more cellphones you carry, the more important you are.

[TomFred @ Jan 24th 2008 9:10PM]

it's ugly to wear 2 or 3 cellphone around the waist?
The true important never wear cell phone when out

[Timerider @ Nov 30th 2007 2:27PM]

Is this just subscription plans? What about actual phones in use?
I use a pay-as-you-go type phone cause plans are too freaking expensive.

[Chris Clayton @ Nov 30th 2007 3:07PM]

There is one thing I have noticed about Engadget writers which I don't seem to understand. Often in articles the word "myriad" is used, but incorrectly as far as I see it. When you are talking about a large number of ways, you should say "a myriad of ways" not "a myriad ways" Don't get me wrong, I love reading these articles, but I cringe when I see something written wrong a number of times. Best regards!

[sure @ Nov 30th 2007 4:20PM]

i don't even have a watch, much less a cellphone.
really don't like'em.

one day, if i really need one for work, then i'll get one.

[Wwhat @ Dec 1st 2007 2:36PM]

Don't have one either, one of the reasons being that don't like the idea of being trackable at all times.
But that's one.

[eslmatt @ Feb 19th 2008 2:33AM]

Lets see, I have 2 active chinese numbers, 1 Canadian and I am thinking of getting a Korean one while I am visiting for a week. In China it is cheaper to get a new phone number with airtime than to just buy airtime.

On a more dishearting note, I heard that Korea has an average of 40 handsets per person. Sounds like a lot of redunant hardware.