Number Of Wireless-Only Users Is Increasing: Survey

More than nine percent of U.S. wireless subscribers currently use their mobile phone as their only phone and that number will increase to as many as 37 percent by 2009, according to a study released Friday by Research and Markets.

In addition, the study found that about half of wireless subscribers are willing to consider replacing their wireline phones with their mobile devices. The number of users who feel a wireline phone is necessary has also decreased since a 2003 survey, the market research company said.

Users who already are heavy wireless users are most likely to consider eliminating their wireline phone, the study found. The study also found that the reasons respondents most often gave for not eliminating their wireline phones are resolvable.

For instance, a commonly-noted reason is the loss of an in-home DSL line, the study noted.