Mobile network 3 UK has revealed that over 1 billion instant messages have been sent across its network since it launched instant messaging (IM) services a year ago. 3 points out that it was the first, and is still the only, mobile operator to offer IM  services on its network in the UK and provides customers with an identical messaging experience to the one they are used to on their PC, allowing them to see the presence of their contacts and exchange messages from their phone.
Since 3 launched Windows Live Messenger on 1 August 1 last year, followed by Yahoo! Messenger in August 2007, an average of more than 100 million messages have been sent and received each month.
The volume of messages being sent proves mobile IM services are a massive success, says 3 Director of Product Management, Fergal Walker. Its success highlights that mobile Internet communication is becoming a part of everyday life for 3 customers. Our customers love being able to chat to friends wherever they are for as long as they want, even after they have shut down their PC.
Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger are free to customers in the UK and are easily downloaded from Planet 3 onto the majority of 3 handsets.