April Continues To Break Text Message Records

April has continued 2005’s strong performance for text messaging, setting another record with of average 84 million messages being sent per day and the total number for the month reaching 2.52 billion, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

Person-to-person texts sent across the UK GSM network operators during April showed an increase of 20% on the total sent during the same period in 2004.

The success builds on the massive 2.57 billion text messages sent in March, a 21% increase on the number sent in March 2004 and a 93% rise on 2002’s figure (see Relentless Rise In Texts Continues Throughout March).

The popularity of text messaging shows no signs of slowing, with February’s total showing that the increase is a constant one, and despite seasonal boosts, such as Valentine’s Day, the medium is continuing its seemingly unstoppable rise (see Texts Outweigh Cards On Valentine’s Day).

The public’s affinity with their mobile phones is a relationship which several broadcasters are keen to exploit, not simply as a revenue stream, as with text voting, but as a content delivery system.

BBC director general, Mark Thompson, recently stated that the Corporation would be rolling out several new technologies in the coming months, including providing more content via mobile phones and portable devices (see Thompson Pledges Drive For Digital Revolution).

Elsewhere, Channel 4 chairman, Luke Johnson, has claimed that the company needs to expand its horizons in order to survive the multi-channel age, stating: “We have a digital radio station, Channel 4, 4Docs, E4, and another, [More4], on Freeview stating later in the year. We have to build on that and get into live events, mobile phones, computer games perhaps, music and we have to get a move on” (see Johnson Pledges Further Brand Extensions For Channel 4)

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