3G Use In US Catches Europe
The number of American mobile subscribers having 3G devices rose to 28.4 percent, barely edging out the number of users in the largest countries in Europe. Those figures indicate that the number of U.S. subscribers with 3G enabled devices has grown 80 percent to 64.2 million during the past year.
Much of the growth is due to vendors rolling out new, improved products -- for example, the much-criticized 3G iPhone and Verizon's Centro—and networks. (To learn the highs and lows of those products check out our Test Center face-off.) Further, major players AT&T and Verizon have been continually expanding their available 3G coverage areas.
"For years, the American mobile industry has aspired to the level of sophistication of the European market," said Mark Donovan, comScore's senior vice president and senior analyst, in a statement.
"Today, Americans have finally caught up with Europeans in adoption of 3G. The advancements in 3G network technology and the introduction of sleek devices into the U.S. market have paid off as adoption of mobile media continues to grow at a rapid pace."