Text Messaging Explodes In U.S.

After years of heavy use in Europe, text messaging is starting to experience explosive growth in the U.S. Nielsen data shows that the average mobile subscriber now sends or receives more text messages a month than the number of phone calls they make/answer.

Data shows that in the April-June period this year, the average mobile subscriber sent/received an average of 357 text messages a month, compared to making/receiving 204 calls.

Meanwhile, the average number of calls is declining as text messaging rises. In the same period last year, the average mobile subscriber sent/received an average of only 172 texts a month--less than half of the 2008 figure. Average calls dropped from 228 in 2007 to 204 this year.

In 2006 from April-June, the figures were a monthly average of 216 calls--and only 79 texts.

Not surprisingly, teens ages 13-17 are helping bring the averages up. In the April-June period this year, the demo averaged 1,742 texts a month (and 231 calls). Those ages 65 and up averaged just 14 texts and 99 calls.

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