After a slow start, the U.S. has caught up with Western Europe in the adoption of 3G. According to data-research firm comScore, 28.4 percent of American mobile subscribers now have 3G devices versus 28.3 percent in the largest countries in Europe.

The number of U.S. subscribers with 3G-enabled devices has grown 80 percent to 64.2 million during the past year. The launch of Apple’s iPhone 3G is a major contributor to this rise. Apple sold more than 1 million of its new iPhone 3G handsets in just three days after the launch of faster smartphone.

The market has responded enthusiastically as mobile vendors have rolled out their enhanced networks and a new crop of 3G enabled devices. The only individual major European countries exceeding the U.S. in 3G penetration are Italy and Spain.

The UK 3G adoption rate (as of June 2008) climbed 7.7 percent to 27.6 percent—from June 2007’s 19.9 percent.

Europe as a whole rose 8 percent to 28.3 percent. Spain had the highest rise of 14.7 percent to 37.2 percent. The U.S. jumped 11.7 percent to 28.4 percent.

“For years, the American mobile industry has aspired to the level of sophistication of the European market,” observed Mark Donovan, comScore’s senior vice president and senior analyst.

“Today, Americans have finally caught up with Europeans in adoption of 3G. The advancements in 3G network technology and the introduction of sleek devices into the US market have paid off as adoption of mobile media continues to grow at a rapid pace,” he added.

Original Location: http://www.macworld.com/article/135808/2008/09/3gadoption.html?t=215