In that same time, China saw mobile phone subscriptions increase more than ten-fold to more than 986 million subscriptions.
Whereas there are some governments in the world which dare not allow their people to use Internet and mobile phones, China now has the largest mobile phone population and Internet population in the world.
The biggest mobile- phone operator, China Mobile, is also a state company.
After screening dozens of U.S.-traded China stocks against the model, one that stood out was cell phone giant China Mobile Ltd. (CHL) , which I featured in my most recent Forbes.com article. (Click here for that article.) But I also found a couple other smaller China plays that get solid marks from my Buffett-based strategy.
China is currently the largest mobile phone market in the world with 130 million users, followed by the US with 124 million users.
China Mobile, the he largest phone carrier in the world with about 700 million subscriber, is the next big prize for Apple.
FORBES: Tim Cook Calls On China Mobile, Raises Hope For iPhone Deal
But Beijing gives with one hand and takes away with the other: China Mobile will have to contend with tougher competition in mobile phone operations, as its weaker rivals are being consolidated and streamlined.
The GSM selection ushered into China foreign network equipment and mobile phone vendors (Ericsson and Nokia, by holding important GSM patents, occupied an advantageous position for GSM network and handset development, which left Chinese firms in catch-up mode).
Examples include China Construction Bank, a huge backer of infrastructure projects, and China Mobile, a big mobile-phone carrier.
India, after China, is the second largest mobile phone market in the world.
Apple has been negotiating with China Mobile to make iPhone its flagship phone.
Apple had been negotiating with China Mobile to make iPhone its flagship phone to fuel further iPhone growth in China.
FORBES: Tim Cook Calls On China Mobile, Raises Hope For iPhone Deal
In a surprise move, China Mobile chose Lumia 920T, a phone based on Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Phone 8 over iPhone 5.
Most of Netease's business is selling messaging services to mobile phone users in China--a profitable business that does not depend on the vagaries of advertising.
Interestingly, our brethren over at Engadget Chinese also spotted a TD-LTE-ready Samsung Galaxy S III at China Mobile's MWC booth (note the "China Mobile 4G" logo on the back of the phone, pictured above), but it wasn't mentioned at the Global TD-LTE Initiative summit at MWC.
Interestingly, China Mobile did not choose a Google Android phone as its flagship.
FORBES: Tim Cook Calls On China Mobile, Raises Hope For iPhone Deal
But look at how big the mobile phone market is in China.
FORBES: What China's Booming Mobile Phone Demand Means For Apple's Stock
Other locally-based services already offer paid apps to China which is the world's largest mobile phone market.
Nokia this morning announced plans to launch to Lumia 920T, a Windows Phone 8 device, with China Mobile.
FORBES: Nokia To Launch Lumia 920 With China Mobile; Unveils 620
This will also help lower per phone subsidy costs and potentially help bring China Mobile on board.
This will also help decrease the per phone subsidy costs and help it bring aboard China Mobile.
China Mobile has been in desperate need for a flagship high end smart phone.
China is the world's largest mobile market with about 520 million mobile phone users.
China Mobile had been in desperate need for a flagship high-end smart phone.
FORBES: Tim Cook Calls On China Mobile, Raises Hope For iPhone Deal
The mobile phone is another way of getting information in and out of China.
Motorola, an American mobile-phone company, one of the biggest foreign investors in China, has restricted travel to affected areas, while Japan's Honda is evacuating families of its Japanese employees deemed to be at risk.
In news from the media industry, whose fortunes are also tied to the consumer and broader economy, Modern Media of China said yesterday it would hook up with licensing partner Bloomberg to offer Businessweek via mobile phone and tablet PC (see related story here).
FORBES: Lujiazui Breakfast: News And Views About China Stocks -- Aug. 29
However, China Mobile and Apple appear very close to reaching a deal on its plans to carry the phone.
FORBES: Chinese iPhone Users Pushing Apple Stock North Of $500
The whole incident, recorded on a mobile phone, was soon viewed online by millions in Hong Kong and in China.
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