SMS volumes to double in by 2008; operators still set to make pile of cash

Link: 160Characters Association

Mike has alllllllllllllllll the gossip on the gartner report.

Although worldwide SMS volumes will double by 2008 according to new Gartner research, the industry remains fixated on finding a replacing format.

Wireless messaging is the most successful mainstream mobile data service to have emerged during the 30-year history of the mobile phone industry. New research from Gartner> shows that an estimated 936 billion SMS messages were sent worldwide in 2005. Gartner predicts this will reach 2.3 trillion by 2010.

By far the most messages will continue to be sent in the Asia Pacific region, where Gartner predicts the level of SMS messages will top 1.8 trillion in 2010. North America will see the biggest compound annual growth rate between 2006 and 2010. Gartner predicts that 318 billion SMS messages will be sent in 2010, making SMS volumes in North America the second highest worldwide. SMS Levels in Western Europe will grow at a slower rate as penetration and usage patterns peak, and are predicted to rise to 213 billion in 2010.

If the Gartner predictions are anywhere near accurate, then Mr & Mrs Operator will be kept in fine wines and nice canapes at their Christmas Parties for some while yet whilst we’re all conditioned to believe 12p a text (out of bundle) is a reasonable price to pay for 160 characters of data.