• Submitted by: admin
• Science and Technology
• Business and Economy
• 05 / 01 / 2010

---

(NECN/CNN) - Outside of a cell phone store in Havana, Lidai pops out with a leather case for her new Nokia.

She's taking advantage of a promotion from Cuba's state-run phone company, designed to make mobile phones more accessible across the island.

"At the very beginning, the cell phone was something to show off. Now it's a real necessity."

The one-time deal gets you a contract and calling card for just over $40, preceding a broader drop in rates set for June.

But, in a country where the average salary is only around $20 a month, the price for many is still too high.

"If people call me and I answer, its only for a very short conversation. We use it more for the text messaging."

Even that can get pricey, so, some have found a cheaper way. Much like the pagers of old, cell phones in Cuba can be a way to let people know that you want to talk.

"The phones identify the caller's number. You can respond if you want to, but if you don't have any money then you don't."

Instead, it is much cheaper to write down the number and call them back on a landline pay phone. But, as rates continue to drop, Cuba expects over a million cell phone subscribers by the year's end. That could make landline phones a little less popular.

Cubans now gather outside stores to get their own mobile phones. Though, some say, the best deals are still on the black market.

Reporter David Ariosto has the story.

Source: www.necn.com/