Text Messaging Reaches New High As Christmas Approaches

The text messaging phenomenon is showing no signs of slowing as it reaches its tenth birthday, with 1.5 billion text messages being sent during November, according to the latest figures from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

November’s figure takes the daily SMS average to over 50 million, up from 40 million in the same period the previous year. It also brings the annual text messaging total to over 15 billion, against a 12 month MDA forecast of 16 billion for 2002.

The MDA is predicting a “bumper” end to the year as revellers use SMS to spread Christmas and New Year’s greetings. Mike Short, chairman of the MDA, said: “It’s a great time to get in touch with old friends, texting is an easy and warm way to send your Christmas wishes.”

Last month the MDA released the first ever collective WAP figures released in association with the UK’s four GSM operators. The figures show that WAP-based services attracted more than 11 million page impressions per day during September, with mobile internet messaging and chat attracting the most traffic (see First WAP Figures Reveal Heavy Mobile Internet Usage).

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

Recent SMS Stories from NewsLine Channel Five Appoints Flytxt Enpocket To Audit First Ever SMS Ad Campaign 50 Million Text Messages A Day In October

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