The mobile telephone service has had an important growth in the last decade, in the context of information technologies. With the promotion of a continued renovation of technologies the life cycle of mobile phones has been reduced; as a result, they are quickly disposed and there is an increase in the demand for raw materials and in the generation of waste. This research aims at analyzing the problem from the perspective of the social and economic habits of consumers, with a focus in the use and disposal of mobile phones in the Colombian case. This paper addresses the relationship among subscribers of mobile telephones, acquisition of these devices and generation of Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). In order to know the aspects that affect the acquisition of mobile phones, a virtual survey was carried out and the databases of the mobile phone market in Colombia were consulted. As a result, this document identified that per capita incomes, market concentration of mobile telephone, and the insecurity perception of citizens in Colombia are decisive aspects in the acquisition of these devices. CC BY-NC-SA Gestion y Ambiente (2016).