Dialing for dollars from cell phones and other mobile devices may be a widespread pastime next year, according to a report released Monday by industry research company Visiongain.

The report predicts that Mobile gambling is expected to expand into the mass market in 2006.

The limited number of operators and small number of devices that allow gambling has so far prevented a mobile gambling explosion, the report explains. But the market, it said, is poised to overcome technical, regulatory, and other challenges to expand rapidly in the second quarter of next year.

By 2008, the industry is expected to generate $4.26 billion in revenue.

"Initial trials of mobile gambling sites have confirmed the channel[s] as viable sources of income for gambling site operators such as William Hill and Ladbrokes," report author Jean-Pierre Aubertin said in a statement.

Services are currently being developed to complement those delivered by fixed and online gambling operators and mobile gambling represents the logical extension of online gambling the report said.