Statistics and Information on Cell Phone Use, Text Messaging Use and Businesses using Text Messaging

 

By Dan Youra

Contact: Youra Consultant

Update: Nov 16, 2007

 

Youra Cell Sites: Youra.com . . . Youra Mobile . . . Youra Text . . . Youra Wireless . . . Open Phone

 

 

CELL PHONE USE

 

250,146,921 Estimated Current US Wireless Subscribers. 11/16/2007. (Source: CTIA The Wireless Association)

 

Today, more people have cell phones than fixed telephone lines, both in the United States and internationally.

 

At the end of 2006 there were more than 2.68 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide. This compares to 1.27 fixed line subscribers and 1 billion internet users worldwide.

 

China's mobile phone market, already the world's biggest, has passed 400 million users.

 

Americans spend, on average, about seven hours a month talking on their cell phones.

 

Wireless Penetration Over 70 percent of total U.S. Population

 

More than 60 million teenagers now carry cell phones, and most take them everywhere they go.

 

Anywhere, anytime communication is now demanded by all generations of mobile users who no longer want to be chained to their PCs.

 

Links to Text Sites: Text2Vault . . . Text2ShortCodes

 

TEXT MESSAGING USE

 

Text messaging combines the portability of cell phones with the convenience of e-mail and instant messaging. Cell phone users are getting hooked.

 

Text Messaging, also known as SMS or Short Message Service, is developing very rapidly throughout the world. By mid-2004 texts were being sent at a rate of 500 billion messages per annum

 

32.5 billion SMS messages in United States in first six months of 2005, up 32% from 24.7 billion in last six months of 2004

 

154% growth in monthly Text Messages: 7.3 billion messages in June 2005, up from 2.9 billion messages in June 2004.

 

911 calls in United States on cell phones average 224,000/day.

 

Links to Text Sites: Text2key Text Phone Book

 

Is there a wireless 411directory?

Currently, there is not a wireless 411 directory. There are no official listings of cell phone numbers. A directory is planned.

In addition, under the current plan, the wireless 411 directory will be using an opt-in approach, which will only list your phone number if you expressly grant permission

 

It is currently illegal for marketers using auto-dialers to call cell phones.

 

Cell phone customers must give permission, or opt in, to be added to be contacted by businesses. Customers who do opt in become a loyal fan club of the businesses they receive text messages from.

 

Business users of SMS text messaging

 

Only a decade ago SMS text messaging was in its infancy and for a long time was considered a toy for teenagers, but now it is being used for a bewildering array of things with many businesses coming to depend on it as a flexible and mobile communications

 

1. Travel Services.  Text messaging is being used to deliver information from events and airline schedules to special promotions. Many services are in travel and tourism, where travelers depend on real time updates, and notices to adapt travel plans to changes.

 

2. Entertainment (See: Text2Fans.com), Bars and Clubs. Use SMS to notify customers, who have opted in, about special promotions and events in the area.

 

3. Internet Service Providers. SMS is being used to notify engineers when systems go down so that problems can be dealt with quickly.

 

4. Personal Health. Texting services help people quit smoking (See: Text2Stop) and get support for other addictive behaviors (See: Text2Recovery).

 

5. Sports. Text information to fans. (See: Text2Sports).

 

6. Schools, Colleges and Universities (See: Text2Education): students and parents can now be alerted by SMS if buildings are closed due to bad weather, etc.

 

7. Doctors (See: Text2Health), Dentists, Hair salons: individual patients can now receive automatic text reminders telling them the time and date of appointments. Patients can also postpone and reschedule via SMS meaning that appointments are less likely to be missed.

 

8. Mechanics and body shops: mechanics are using SMS to notify customers when their cars are ready. This can save both the garages and customers time, because as soon as a job is completed the customer can be alerted, whether they are at home or at work.

 

9. Charities: charities are using SMS in a variety of ways ranging from using it to alert people about fundraising activities or as a means to collect donations with enabling people being to make a pledge via a text short code with the donation being taken from their next bill.

 

10. Insurance Companies: mobile users can now receive quotes and cover confirmation from insurance companies via SMS, which has helped to enhance customer service as users can have access to information 24 hours a day.

 

Text messaging has become part of everyday life, so it makes perfect sense that businesses should be looking to utilize it as a flexible communication tool. Businesses are starting to use it very innovatively and for some their use of text messaging has given them a competitive advantage over their rivals.