57 per cent of US couples will spend this Valentines Day apart, according to a survey by mobile VoIP company Rebtel – sad news for them, but not for mobile operators, as 64.3 per cent of those getting in touch with their distant other half will be calling on their mobile phone.

The humble text message, however, doesnt seem to be considered too romantic in the US, with only 2.5 per cent primarily contacting their loved one over SMS. At 15.4 per cent, VoIP services, like Skype or Rebtels own, were the second most popular way of getting in touch, while calling from landlines (6.4 per cent) and video chat (4.6 per cent) came in third and fourth.

“For couples living away from each other on Valentine’s Day, mobile communications are increasingly called upon to bridge the gap,” says Andreas Bernstrom, CEO of Rebtel. “While mobile phones and voice services have taken the place at the top as preferred methods of communication, video chat services have emerged as viable alternative, and predictably soon could overtake the landline as a more popular way to connect with that special someone.”