Cingular passes 50 million

NEW ORLEANS--Leading U.S. cell phone operator Cingular Wireless said Tuesday it has passed the 50 million subscriber mark, the first U.S. cell phone operator to do so. No. 2 carrier Verizon Wireless has 43 million subscribers, according to its latest figures.

Cingular Wireless has added about 3 million new subscribers since October, according to Cingular Chief Operating Officer Ralph De La Vega.