Record U.S. wireless subscriptions in 2005

Wireless-phone subscriptions in the United States grew by 25.7 million in 2005, reaching just under 208 million, according to The Wireless Association.

The record growth for the 12-month period contributed to a 14-percent increase over 2004, when wireless subscriptions barely topped 182 million.

The association noted a major surge in the use of short message service and text messaging -- nearly 49 billion messages sent in the six months ending in December, a 97-percent increase over the last six months of 2004, when 24.7 billion messages were sent.

Association President Steve Largent cited consumer awareness of the advantages of wireless as fueling the boom.

"The mobile communications revolution is in full swing, and now nearly 70 percent of America is taking part in it," Largent said during a presentation at the CTIA Wireless trade show in Las Vegas.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International