SMS is the most expensive data application, yet also the most used

Im convinced that it will drop as more people are using social networks, whatsapp and bbm.
 
surely with the increasing use of smart phones the revenue from SMSs will go down.. just think how many ppl in SA use BBM or whatsapp to send messages.
SMS is an outdated technology and will fade over time
 
SMS is just easy, thats why people use it. Also its universal, you have a cell number you send a message done.

With IM apps there is always the issue of different apps, BBM, Whatsapp etc No standardization. If i dont have a compatible app with another person, then sms is the only alternative.
 
True... SMSing is just dumb! But it does work where others are absent... in rural areas for instance... SMS will work even if voice & data services doesn't... :)
 
Vlad said:
surely with the increasing use of smart phones the revenue from SMSs will go down.. just think how many ppl in SA use BBM or whatsapp to send messages.
SMS is an outdated technology and will fade over time
Click to expand...

Heavy users of Mobile Instant Messaging do indeed send less SMS messages (40% less on average). SMS is not replaced completely though. MIM is used with close friends and family, and SMS is used for the rest.

Also keep in mind that 27% of all smartphone users have never downloaded a single application. The MIM space is also extremely fragmented, and there is little incentive for the different MIM systems to work with each other. The result is that the biggest MIM services are still orders of magnitude smaller than SMS (which is available on all mobile phones).
 
Ya whatsapp and BBM are currently growing very much in popularity. I barely touch my 200 sms bundle every month. But it's going to take a long time for sms's to not be used - if ever.
 
i cant even remember when last i sent a text msg, maybe 2 months ago i might have sent one. I use emails or msn or skype straight from my phone, not going to bother with a 161 char sms.

I can hardly read what people type anyway as they make words shorter and shorter until the conversations from hi how are you will look like"h h r u"
 
Someone say universal push messaging instead of SMS :)
Everywhere, any phone, reliable, etc.

Alternatives just don't hit all those marks.
To add to this - what percentage of phones out there just can't support any form of data? What that means is any business wanting to get a message out is almost always going to go with SMS.
 
Where did the 160 character limit come from? I understand the logic of limiting characters, but why 160?
 
The longevity of SMS proves that if a service is reliable. People will happily pay (as this article clearly points point) disproportionate amount for it. Despite its “age” and lack of apparent functionality, SMS works and given the low barrier of entry (grannies on a Nokia 3310 can SMS). It is still a winner.
 
I think you need to consider how SMS is transmitted through out the mobile networks. SMS make use of important signalling links which are used to set up voice calls. Overloading these links with SMS traffic can have devastating results for voice traffic...........
 
hmm, whatsapp is the future of message servicing. Just need more people using it :)
 
using whatsapp extensively, but use FREESMS to SMS when needed..but then i'm always close to a PC
 
RJMadCat said:
i cant even remember when last i sent a text msg, maybe 2 months ago i might have sent one. I use emails or msn or skype straight from my phone, not going to bother with a 161 char sms.

I can hardly read what people type anyway as they make words shorter and shorter until the conversations from hi how are you will look like"h h r u"
Click to expand...

I also hardly use sms's, emails and gtalk are a lot better and you can say a lot more. It's a pet peeve of mine when people reduce whole words to single letters that you have to guess the meaning of, feels like they are being lazy.
 
I've been saying for years that the operators are killing us with overpriced SMS rates.
But I solved that problem by switching to Virgin. 500 free SMS's, so now the g/f and I call each other less, as short calls are easily replaced by free sms's. Now only call when there's a lot to say.
 
Thanks ProSMS. Very interesting article and also answers why Twitter is 140 characters.
 
RJMadCat said:
I can hardly read what people type anyway as they make words shorter and shorter until the conversations from hi how are you will look like"h h r u"
Click to expand...

:D:D:D:D:D
I had a good laugh at the above response. It is true, I see my 12 year old daughter texting stuff like "WUD" (what you doing) "WRU" (where are you) To be honest, I don't mind abbreviations, but hate it when there is really poor spelling used to rape the language.....

Back to the topic - I am using Whatsapp more and more, and am happy to see that more of my friends are adding whatsapp on their phones.
I just wish there could be ONE universal IM app, so we can trash SMS for good. I am still waiting for a BBM app for the iPhone - I am sure it will be here soon
 
Been using Whatsapp for a while now, receiving an sms is a surprise these days lol. The main feature i like about it is that it uses your cell number as the account, no stupid random pins.
BBM i just dislike on pure principle of exclusivity; the whole world should own a BB? Hahahahaa, go jump off a cliff
 
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