Even with the indicators not coming up in favor of the carrier, Parson would not degrade the prospects for the wireless business. Other analysts agree. The market is by no means mature, said Naqi Jaffery, chief analyst at The Strategis Group. While the majority of large-market households may have at least one cell phone, wireless subscription rates are driven by individuals rather than by households, he added. However, for that to occur, the carriers will have to change the expectations of their users.
People are very much used to their experience on the Internet at home.
When they buy their wireless phone, they are expecting that same experience and they are not getting it. According to the study, there will be 1.7 billion mobile phone subscribers versus 1.2 billion fixed phone subscribers worldwide. In the international marketplace, this shift is driven by Korea and Japan, as well as the People's Republic of China, Schaeffler said. However, the United States will still be dominated by landline telephony. Prepaid wireless growth will accelerate and make up a larger part of the wireless market, although the per-minute fees for prepaid services will continue to climb, according to the report.