Text Messaging Hits All Time High In March

Text messaging reached an all time high in March with an average of 56 million SMS messages sent each day during the month, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

The total number of person to person text messages sent across the four UK GSM networks in March 2003 totalled 1.72 billion, twice the number of text messages sent in the same period the previous year.

According to the MDA, Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s day prompted significant increases in daily text messaging and over 65 million messages were sent throughout the UK on St Patrick’s day alone.

Text messaging was also the communication method of choice for individuals wishing to voice their opinion over the military conflict in Iraq. The BBC noted the increased popularity of text messaging as a platform for people to express their disapproval or voice their support for the military invasion of Iraq.

Nigel Chapman, deputy director of the BBC World Service, commented: “Suddenly text messaging appears to have moved on from personal communication to personal statement.”

Special events also helped to boost the number of text messages sent in February and 78 million romantic SMS messages were sent on Valentine’s Day. The daily average number of text messages sent in February was 55 million, compared to 44 million in the same period the previous year and just 29 million in February 2001 (see Valentine’s Day Texts Boost February SMS Total).

Mobile Data Association: 01922 419600 www.mda-mobiledata.org

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