Greeks break all mobile telecommunication records – 10 million population owns 17 million cell phones. This showed a research by Focus Bari presented at the 10th International Telecommunications congress – Info-Com World. This means that many Greeks own more than one cell phones, but also that there are many inactive ones as well. This means that between 85% and 90% of Greeks have mobile phones.

The same research shows that cell phones are starting to “kill” land lines. Two out of every 10 Greeks either doesn’t have or use a land line. The research included 20 000 citizens and was done between March 2007 and March 2008. 91% of Greeks between the ages of 18 and 70 have cell phones and children get their first at the age of 7. 21% of the population between 7 and 17 years old have mobile phones.

In general, 51% use prepaid cards, 44% are subscribers, 6% have a prepaid card and a contract plan.

Greeks spend over 20 Euros monthly for mobile phone bills. The ones who pay the most are the Cosmote subscribers – over 24.2 Euros per month, followed by Vodafone – 22 Euros per month. The most moderate spenders are the Wind subscribers who spend over 20 Euros monthly.

Focus Bari divides the cell phone consumers into three categories:

- 45% - The “stupid” consumer who uses his/her cell phone only as a phone

- 45% - The “modern” consumer who also uses the SMS feature

- 10% - The “advanced” consumer who uses his/her cell phone also to surf the net