December Continues 2005’s Record Breaking Text Trend

The Mobile Data Association (MDA) has unveiled the highest ever monthly text messaging total for Britain, with data transmitted in December 2005 reaching a new record.

A total of 3.1 billion messages were sent across the UK’s mobile networks during December, averaging 100 million per day.

The record activity follows the MDA’s announcement of a record New Year’s Day 2006, in which 165 million text messages were transmitted by the UK’s mobile customers (see New Year’s Eve Sees Britons Sending Record Texts).

The MDA attributes December’s record figure, at least in part, to festive mobile phone sales. The measurement body claims that handset recipients would be “eager to use the text function to send seasonal greetings.” The figures support this theory, with an average of 7 million messages sent every hour throughout the 25th December.

Last year’s text message totals have left the industry on a high note, with 32 billion messages being transmitted throughout the course of 2005. The figure meets MDA forecasts, with 2006 looking likely to see “significant” growth in text messaging. The MDA predicts that 36.5 billion messages will be sent during the year, an average of 100 million messages per day.

The next event expected to cause a peak in text activity is Valentines Day. The MDA will report statistics for the day’s texting in the week ending 17th February. Last year saw a massive 92 million messages over the day (see January Breaks Record For Texts Sent).

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