US surpasses European 3G subscribers by 0.1% -- first!
by Thomas Ricker 
posted Sep 4th 2008 at 8:15AM
If comScore's data is to believed then the US has done the unthinkable and passed Western Europe (aka, old Europe right Donnie?) in terms of 3G adoption. 28.4% of American mobile cellphone subscribers north of that southern land mass with a similar sounding name now sport 3G devices compared to a measly 28.3% average for Europe's largest countries. That's an 80% surge in the US last year even though T-Mobile is still 3G-less. Man, it's like the Phelps 100-meter butterfly victory all over again, eh Europe?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
matttsui @ Sep 4th 2008 9:21AM
actually T-Mobile has 3G in few markets, will expand to 15-20 by end of the year
Paps @ Sep 4th 2008 9:33AM
Well, I really would like to see the data of their statistics.
In Europe, for a couple of years now 3G networks have been online and nowadays pretty much every mobile phone up for sale there are 3G so unless they have taken only a few countries and not all the the members(15 or 25 as you wish) I cannot see where their data came from...
sockatume @ Sep 4th 2008 2:15PM
Not by a long shot is every phone 3G. Aside from my brother's Viewty and a coworker's N95 I don't know anyone who has one, although most of them are on contract.
slowburn @ Sep 4th 2008 9:40AM
Reminds me of a saying; "All dressed up, and no where to go."
Galen20K @ Sep 4th 2008 10:16AM
ANd its only going to be MORE as T-Mobile's 3G and 4G network come into play.
- D
monterey86 @ Sep 4th 2008 12:00PM
Many people have 3G devices on 3G networks but don't buy a data plan.
crow610 @ Sep 4th 2008 12:07PM
GO PHELPS!
gapboi954 @ Sep 4th 2008 6:38PM
T-Mobile has 3G in at least 6 markets now. More by the end of the year
sockatume @ Sep 4th 2008 2:11PM
On the other hand, our 3G networks actually, y'know, work, and aren't brought to a standstill by someone launching a 3G smartphone. ;)
KevinD @ Sep 4th 2008 6:35PM
Over half the phone sold in the USA have 3G.
Most are RAZRs.
So it doesn't mean that many people are actually using 3G.
LvsSocer @ Sep 5th 2008 12:21AM
Funny you should mention that...
I was visiting my folks a few days ago and they pointed out that their new cell phone (a RAZR) was getting poor battery life. So I showed them how to turn the 3G off .. and voila, better battery by a landslide (more of what you would expect from a simple cell phone).
There isn't even a reason to have 3G on phones catering to that market....
Sarig @ Sep 5th 2008 12:27PM
It says "Europa" in the title. Then it says "Western Europe", and finally "for Europe's largest countries".
None of these three are the same. Want me to email you a map of Europe engadget?
lejupp @ Sep 8th 2008 6:41AM
But please don't use this one:
http://www.riehle.org/humorous-takes/fun-photos/ch-according-to-cnn.jpg
Sarig @ Sep 9th 2008 8:41PM
Hahahaha, that's just awesome.