More People Are Text Messaging In The US

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/0131472158313461/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/0131472158313461/</a><br /><br /></div>"We’d been noticing that our friends were using text messaging a lot more than they used to, but since we’re not the types to extrapolate from our own experiences, we couldn’t tell how widespread texting had really become. Now confirming our suspicions is a new study which says that the US is finally starting to catch up with Europe and Asia when it comes to text messaging, and that now more than one-third of cellphone subscribers send text messages. The one metric they do leave out is the volume of text messages sent every year, and we’ll bet that it’s still way, way higher in Europe than it is here."<br /><br />Do you guys agree with this? I get some MSN Alerts sent to my phone, and occasionally I get an text message from a friend, but most of the those are sent from a computer and not a mobile phone. I find it's faster to just phone and leave a voice message.

[HailFire]

I've been using a cell phone for 3 years but didn't start text messaging until a month ago when i upgraded to a gsm plan with 100 text messages per month. I've found that it is unbelievably useful and I can't live without it anymore. For example, I was at Coachella this year, a huge concert in Palm Springs, and there were so many people that no one could make phone calls, even with full reception. However, by text messaging, i knew each message would eventually go through. It was a real lifesaver. Also, ever try giving someone directions in a voicemail or over the phone? It's much much easier to follow printed directions than verbal ones.

I think the problem is the pricing. I never used to text message b/c it cost 10 cents per message, but now that I have 100 free per month, I use about 100 ever month.

[David McNamee]

I do a lot of text messaging. Well, a lot by U.S. standards.

It's great for getting out quick bursts of info when you either can't (or don't want) to have a full-blown conversation.

[RenesisX]

Hehe, it's interesting hearing about people who are just starting to use text messaging. As it says in the article, in the UK it's becoming the primary form of communication! I think I've probably been texting for over 7 years now...

[refnulf]

Yeah, I text like a maniac too. I send sms'es like my life depends on it.

[Mike Temporale]

You guys are big users of T9 then eh? I guess I'll have to watch for T9 news too. I'm not a big fan of texting. But I have to admit that I don't do it very often.