3G services increased rapidly in 2004 and will increase even more rapidly through 2009, according to a study released Monday by In-Stat/MDR.

The study found that 2.5 million cellular modems shipped in 2004, which was a 167 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, the study predicted that about 14 million cellular modems will be shipped a year by 2009.

"The impetus for the dramatic growth in 2004, and for even more rapid growth projected in later years, is a result of the build-out of high-speed wireless (3G) networks, particularly UMTS networks in Western Europe, and growing corporate demand for wireless data services in both North America and Europe," Ken Hyers, an In-Stat/MDR analyst said in a statement.

Most of the cellular modems were in the form of PCMCIA cards for laptops, the study found. However, the study predicted that, by 2009, the vast majority of cellular modems will be embedded in devices.