Group Expects 49% Rise in Wireless Users

Yankee Group, a communications research and consulting firm, said it expected the number of wireless telephone subscribers globally to increase 49% over the next four years and reach 1.72 billion by 2007.

The firm expected subscriber revenue to rise 51% to $584 billion by 2007, making wireless services similar in value to worldwide crude oil production.

It said technology based on GSM, or global system for mobile communication, would control about 80% of the market in 2007, up from 70% in 2002. Technology based on CDMA, or code division multiple access, will grow to about 16% of the market from 13%, it added.

Yankee Group is owned by media and information company Reuters Group.