Technology blog Gearlog reports that according to the CTIA-Wireless Association, over 250 million Americans now subscribe to a cellular-phone service. That puts overall subscriber penetration at 82 percent, and is more than four times the number of subscribers the U.S. had a decade ago.

If anyone needs more justification why wireless carriers, phone vendors, studios, magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets are trying so hard to figure out what consumers want on mobile, it's this. Unlike with other gadgets, such as the Sony PSP with its failed UMD media format, or all those forgotten CD-i "interactive" components from the 1990's, practically everyone already has a cell phone. There's no cost of entry other than signing up for a service, or using a free one that's ad-sponsored.

U.S. Cell-Phone Penetration Tops 82 Percent [Gearlog]