Figures released by the Mobile Data Association (MDA) show that 3.8 billion text messages were sent in the UK during October. The total is 100 million up on the previous record, achieved in September this year, and up almost 27 % on the total for October 2005.
The MDA suggests that the nations texters will have plenty to keep their texting fingers busy in the run-up to Christmas. Apart from gossiping about the latest goings-on in the Im a Celebrity jungle or the X-Factor studio, the MDA says text messaging will prove invaluable over the festive period for arranging parties and suggesting presents.
Waitrose is offering text messaging ingredients to consumers mobiles for Christmas recipes, which can be used as a reminder while out shopping. Father Christmas is also getting in on the act. Mobile users can sign up on Santas website for 3 Merry Textmas Messages to let the kids know, for example, that he has left the North Pole on schedule, or of any delays that might slow his journey.
For the past seven years the MDAs messaging website, Text.it has witnessed text messaging grow from a popular craze to becoming second nature as an essential communications tool for mobile phone users. The full statistics of this text message explosion and monthly figure releases can be found here.