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| Mobile phones 'eroding landlines' | Mobile phones 'eroding landlines' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Mobile phone use is continuing to reduce the amount of time people spend using landlines, according to a report by the UK communications watchdog. | Mobile phone use is continuing to reduce the amount of time people spend using landlines, according to a report by the UK communications watchdog. |
| For the first time, calls from mobiles now account for more than a third of time spent on phone calls, Ofcom said. | For the first time, calls from mobiles now account for more than a third of time spent on phone calls, Ofcom said. |
| Mobile phone call minutes totalled 82 billion last year, in an overall total of 234 billion. | Mobile phone call minutes totalled 82 billion last year, in an overall total of 234 billion. |
| And 9% of UK households rely solely on mobile phones, compared with 7% that only have a landline, the report added. | And 9% of UK households rely solely on mobile phones, compared with 7% that only have a landline, the report added. |
| "There are more households which are now mobile-only in terms of their phone. The first quarter of 2007 is the first time that has happened," said Ofcom spokesman Peter Phillips. | "There are more households which are now mobile-only in terms of their phone. The first quarter of 2007 is the first time that has happened," said Ofcom spokesman Peter Phillips. |
| 'Costs dropping' | 'Costs dropping' |
| Subscriptions to fixed telephone lines continued their decline, down 1.5% to 33.6 million last year. | Subscriptions to fixed telephone lines continued their decline, down 1.5% to 33.6 million last year. |
| Meanwhile demand for gadgets such as Blackberrys and other PDAs - as well as users being lured to a new network by competitive tariffs - increased mobile phone subscriptions. | |
| Ofcom's report also showed a slight growth in the number of children using mobiles, with 53% of eight-to-15-year-olds using a handset in 2006 compared to 50% a year earlier. | Ofcom's report also showed a slight growth in the number of children using mobiles, with 53% of eight-to-15-year-olds using a handset in 2006 compared to 50% a year earlier. |
| Ofcom also said that the average cost of all telecoms - including landlines, mobiles, texts and broadband - fell to £69.85 per month for residential customers in 2006, from £76.36 the previous year. | Ofcom also said that the average cost of all telecoms - including landlines, mobiles, texts and broadband - fell to £69.85 per month for residential customers in 2006, from £76.36 the previous year. |