The number of text messages sent in the UK last year almost doubled compared to 2000, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).
December’s 1.3 billion total means that during the course of 2001, some 12.2 billion chargeable person to person text messages were sent, compared to 1.1 billion in 1999 and 6.17 billion in 2000.
Mike Short, chairman of the MDA said: “Text messaging went from strength to strength throughout 2001, culminating in the landmark monthly total for August when Britons broke the billion barrier for the first time. We look forward to 2002 compounding this growth.”
Marketers are becoming increasingly interested in the fact that Britons now send approximately 42 million texts every day, especially as the medium is particularly popular amongst the younger age groups.
