Statistics and Information on Cell Phone Use, Text Messaging Use and Businesses using Text Messaging
By Dan Youra
Update: Nov 16, 2007
Youra Cell Sites: Youra.com . . . Youra Mobile . . . Youra Text . . . Youra Wireless . . . Open Phone
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 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.
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.