UK sends over 1 billion texts a week

UK mobile phone users now send 1.2 billion texts a week according to the Mobile Data Association.

4,285 billion texts were sent in the month of September, a 25% increase on the previous year, and a 1200% increase on the figure in 1999.

So here’s some easy to digest figures for your perusal:

• We send nearly six million texts an hour
• That’s 99,000 texts a minute
• And 1600 texts a second
• Per person that’s 70 texts per month
• Or about 2.5 a day.

Yes I know you can’t send half a text message.

There are a number of reasons for the massive increase, most siginificantly the increasing availability and uptake of all inclusive tariffs with large number of text messages. I personally don’t think twice about sending a text these days when previously I might have counted down the characters to make sure I didn’t go into a second message! No need when you’ve got 900 a month!

Businesses are also more likely to send text messaging these days either to communicate with employees or as a means of contacting customers.

Its also in my opinion becomming a more socially acceptable way to contact people. Whereas previously a text might have been considered impolite, or not particularly personal, its starting to be more appropriate, and its also being embraced by older generations as well.

If all this