|
|
500 mln cellphone users mark China's 20th anniversary of mobile
communications |
 |
+ |
- |
16:33, July 20, 2007 |
China, a country where 20 years ago most of its citizens did not even have fixed landlines, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of mobile communications with 500 million cellphone subscribers.
The 500 million figure was reached, and surpassed, last month, faster than original forecasts as reduced phone charges have continued to fuel public demand, particularly among rural residents and migrant workers.
Guo Xiaodong, a 21-year-old man from Sichuan Province working in a Beijing restaurant, bought a mobile phone last month for 500 yuan (65.8 U.S. dollars), choosing a China Mobile service package that offers free incoming calls.
"It''s more convenient. My girlfriend back home can contact me anytime she wants. It also helps me feel like a city guy," said the young man.
Most migrant workers or rural residents share this feeling. But unlike the traditional concept that a mobile phone is a luxurious fashion accessory, it is increasingly being seen as a necessity for daily life.
"Since the birth of the cellular phone, the advanced and convenient nature of mobile technology has left other ways of communications far behind. A continuously expanding demand for mobile telecommunications is a major reason for the rapid growth of Chinese mobile users," said Professor Zeng Jianqiu with the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.
[1] [2]
|
|
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article