More than 277 million Chinese have access to third-generation network

Beijing, July 16 (ANI): The increasing popularity of devices such as the iPhone and the expansion of the third-generation network have divulged more than 277 million people to access the internet via their phones in China by the end of June, representing more than 65 percent of China's 420 million Internet users.

According to the China Daily, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).

Has registered an 18 percent increase in the number of people who surf the internet on mobile phones from half a year ago.

"Mobile phones will catch up with personal computers to be another main access to the Internet in the coming years," Liu Bing, director of Internet Research Department of the CNNIC said.

According to the CNNIC, about 11 percent of users access the internet only though mobile phones, up from 8 percent in December.

Companies are stepping up efforts to cash in on the popularity of the mobile internet.

The Chinese Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center said that a WiFi-ready iPhone was approved on July 5, before which, it had to enter the Chinese market without WiFi, like other brand-name mobile phones from overseas.

Blackberry has also teamed up with China Mobile to provide smartphones targeting individual users.

The third-generation network, which was rolled out in China last year, will further contribute to the growth of the country's Internet users, the report stated. (ANI)