Washington - An estimated 19 per cent of consumers with a cellphone in the US, or about 35 million people, have discontinued their cellphone service in the last six months because of job loss, fear of job loss and other financial concerns, according to a survey released Thursday.

The New Millennium Research Council, which released the study, also said that nearly 40 per cent, or 60 million, of cellphone users with contracts would cancel their plans and seek cheaper services if the economy gets any worse over the next six months.

They will turn to prepaid cellphone services or cut down on internet, texting and other amenities in their plans, the study showed.

"The era of cellphone penny pinching is officially here," said Allen Hepner, a scholar with the council, in a press statement.

But while there is a "fundamental" shift going on in the cellphone market, most consumers will hang on to their phones using cheaper plans, he said.