If we take into account the latest studies for the Asian mobile service market, this "prophecy" might come true. It turns out that in the Asia-Pacific area, except Japan, by 2009, the number of mobile service users will exceed 910 million. The increase was triggered last year after the 25.6% spike, when the total number of users had reached 527.3 million.

For 2005, AFTP announces that the number of users will increase with 18.6%, amounting to 625.5 million users.

Among the 10 markets, India recorded the fastest growth, the number of users doubling in this country to 48 million, and by 2009 it is estimated that the number of mobile handset owners will reach 148.77 million.

China, the Philippines and Thailand represent other significant factors that led to the development of the mobile service segment in the Asia-Pacific area.

In China, the number of mobile services reached 317.27 million last year and will increase to 535.37 million by 2009. In the Philippines, it is estimated that the number of users will increase from last year's 32.74 million to 57.46 million, and in Thailand the number will increase from 27.14 million to 39.9 million.