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    SMS continues to thrive

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    June’s UK text messaging figure of 2.10 billion sets a new record, making it the 6th consecutive month of reporting a total in excess of 2 billion texts, according to figures released today by the Mobile Data Association (MDA). Person-to-person texts sent across the UK GSM network operators last month show an increase of 28% on the total sent during the same period in 2003.

    Throughout June and July the Mobile Data Association (MDA) and Shearings Holidays have been hosting a series of drop in text messaging workshops and special promotion days for the 50+ age group at Wyevale Garden Centres.

    The events are proving to be a huge success, Swindon being the busiest so far with 200 visitors. Experts have been answering queries, teaching people how to text and providing guidance on using handsets at home and abroad, now that the holiday season is upon us.

    The majority of visitors to the roadshows have not known how to text at all and are hesitant to use the facility, but are pleasantly surprised once they have talked to the text message team.

    On learning how to text, one visitor announced how ‘cool’ it was that she could now text her grand-children, and how delighted they would be to get a message from Gran!

    A couple, one of whom was deaf, were amazed at how easy text messaging actually is and on realising that handsets can vibrate rather than ring, they have decided to invest in mobile technology purely for its text messaging purposes.

    The programme of workshops has been developed by the MDA as part of its ongoing education initiative for older consumers.

    Over the last five years text.it (www.text.it) has witnessed text messaging grow from a popular craze to becoming an essential communication tool. The full statistics of this text message explosion and monthly figure releases can be found at: www.text.it/mediacentre/default.asp?intPageID=96.

    Text.it also carries out text message counts on specific days throughout the year. Diary dates incorporating the most recent figures are listed on the web site at www.text.it/mediacentre/default.asp?intPageID=478.