Wireless Devices Officially Outnumber People in US

Why? Because many of us need a phone and a tablet

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2011 8:37 AM CDT

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America Officially Has More Wireless Devices Than People — There are now more cellphones in the US than people. (Shutterstock)

For every person, a mobile device … or two. In the United States, wireless devices now outnumber people, according to a new survey by trade group CTIA. That’s possible because so many people own more than one such device, for example a smartphone and a tablet. There are now 327.6 million mobile devices in the country and its territories (a 9% increase during the first six months of the year), compared to 315 million people. More from the Washington Post:

Of those devices, just 15.2 million are wireless network-connected tablets and laptops; however, that number is up 17% from one year prior.
During the first six months of this year, wireless network data traffic increased a whopping 111% to 341.2 billion megabytes.
In a typical home of 2.6 people, there are an average of 24 gadgets; 15 years ago, that number was 12. At least one of those gadgets is a smartphone.

(Read more cellphones stories.)

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