Record Breaking New Year Texts Top 100 Million

The number of text messages sent in one day topped 100 million for the first time on New Year’s Day, as record numbers of mobile phone users sent SMS greetings to friends and relatives.

The latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA) show that 102 million person to person text messages were sent across the four UK GSM networks between midnight on 31 December and midnight on 1 January. This represents a 59% increase on the same period the previous year and is twice the normal daily average.

Commenting on the figures, Mike Short chairman of the MDA, said: “The large amount of text messages sent at New Year confirms that most people see text messaging as a warm and personal way to greet their friends and loved ones on special occasions.”

He added: “The use of text is also expanding in to things like picture messaging as people explore the range of mobile messaging services that are becoming available.”

1.5 billion text messages were sent during November, taking the daily SMS average for the month to over 50 million, up from 40 million in the same period the previous year. The MDA predicts that a total of 16 billion text messages were sent during 2002 (see Text Messaging Reaches New High As Christmas Approaches).

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

Recent New Media Stories from NewsLine Report Claims Top Corporate Websites Wallow In Mediocrity Government Websites Fail To Captivate Freeserve Embarks On Major New Ad Campaign

Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left