www.smh.com.au

Poms have become text addicts

November 6, 2007 - 11:01AM

Britons now send more than one billion text messages a week - as many as were sent in the whole of 1999, figures out today showed.

People in Britain sent 4825 billion texts during September 2007, an increase of 25 per cent on September last year, according to the Mobile Data Association (MDA).

That adds up to 4000 text messages a second, or 70 per person each month.

The MDA, an industry group that promotes the use of mobile phone data, put the rise in text message down to new deals from phone companies and the more personal nature of sending a text.

Meanwhile, there has been a "significant increase" in businesses communicating with their customers via text, the MDA said.

The group revised its forecast for the total number of texts sent in 2007 from 48 billion to 52 billion following the sharp increase in September.

Last year, 41.8 billion texts were sent in Britain.

"The UK text volumes show no real signs of abating," said MDA chairman Mike Short, adding that Britain is among the top six countries in the world for text messaging.

"While the trend towards operators offering 'all-you-can-eat' tariffs increases, this will act as a catalyst for consumers' passion for all things mobile."

AFP

When news happens: send photos, videos & tip-offs to 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764), or us.

Get the Herald home delivered each weekend - just $30 for 3 months