Almost one in five Europeans have cut off their landlines, relying entirely on cell phones and mobile device to make their calls. A recent Eurostat study included all 27 EU countries except Bulgaria and Romania.
"The study showed that the number of households relying only on a mobile telephone tended to be higher in EU newcomers from central and eastern Europe -- 42 percent in the Czech Republic, compared with 11 percent in Germany," Reuters said.
In Nokia's homeland of Finland, 46% of households have disconnected their landlines entirely, while in Sweden, the home of Ericsson, ZERO per cent relied solely on cellphones.
"Luxembourg had the highest number of mobile subscriptions per 100 people -- 158, followed by Lithuania with 127 and Italy with 122."
These days, everyone has a mobile phone, the majority of people using their landlines for business or to make long-distance calls. However, with the rise of free online calling services like Skype. When's the last time you received a call at home that wasn't from a pesky telemarketer? Dropping the land line and making the permanent switch to cell phones will likely sweep over the rest of the developed world soon.
Europe Ditches Landlines
Almost 1 in 5 Rely on Mobiles
Trend Themes
1. Rise of Mobile-only Households - The increasing number of households relying only on mobile phones and devices presents opportunities for companies to capitalize on the shift towards mobile-centric communication.
2. Decline of Traditional Landline Telephony - As more Europeans cut off their landlines and rely solely on mobile phones and devices, there is an opportunity for companies to focus on innovating and developing mobile-friendly telecom technologies.
3. Growth of Online Calling Services - With the rise of free and convenient online calling services such as Skype, there is an opportunity for companies to innovate in this space and develop new and improved communication technologies for personal and business use.
Industry Implications
1. Telecommunications - The telecommunications industry should focus on providing mobile-friendly communication technologies and services as more Europeans rely only on mobile phones and devices.
2. Online Communication Services - The proliferation of free online calling services like Skype presents an opportunity for companies in this industry to innovate and tailor their services to meet the needs of the growing mobile-only population.
3. Mobile Technology - As mobile phones and devices become the primary means of communication, there is an opportunity for companies in the mobile technology industry to develop new and innovative technologies that cater to the mobile-centric lifestyle of consumers.