China Mobile Users Pass 600 Million, Fueled by Rural Areas

China Mobile became the world’s first phone company to exceed 600 million subscribers as it signed up more rural customers in the first quarter. China Mobile added 16.8 million subscribers in the first quarter, an almost 3 percent increase from the 584 million customers at the end of December. With mobile devices now accounting for 75 percent of China’s 1.2 billion phone users, the Beijing-based carrier is getting most of its new additions from customers in the countryside who spend less on their monthly phone bills. As a result average revenue per user, or ARPU, for the three months ended March 31 dropped to 67 yuan ($10.3), from 76 yuan at the end of December, the company said