DISQUS

Mobile Industry Review: http://www.smstextnews.com/2008/08/why_do_the_british_send_more_texts.html

  • David Carrington · 1 year ago
    I'm one of those guys that keep these averages nice and high. Here's a sample of my usage from old bills:

    Jan - 1765
    Feb - 2220
    Mar - 1837
    Apr - 1627

    Texting was temporarily a replacement for IM. My usage has dropped down to about 800 per month now. Luckily it's all covered by an unlimited text plan.
  • Ewan · 1 year ago
    That's quite a lot!
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    Wow!

    That's loads!

    How do you find the time to text that much?

    Samantha.
  • Matt Hatton · 1 year ago
    It's due to the national obsession with respect for personal space. Phone calls are intrusive. With a text you're saying "I'd like to communicate but if you're too busy I understand", with a call you're saying "pay me attention...now".
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    That makes sense. We're all turning into extroverts really.

    Thanks,
    Samantha.
  • Mark · 1 year ago
    I think Matt has got a really interesting point which I totally agree with...

    Are we suffering as a result and losing a vital part of our communication skills?
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    I think we are.

    A lot of spoken conversations I have with people, sound very much like an MSN conversation, with the Hi, how are you?, what have you been upto?
    The order has set itself in, and we can't really talk without initiating the questions. It's really odd.

    Samantha.
  • JamesM · 1 year ago
    I workin an operator, specifically on messaging..

    and its clear that the WEATHER has alot to do with it... basically with all the crap weather we get, people aren't out and about as much : or in general need more communication to organise themselves. as we all struggle with the rain and lack of sun, we turn to our phones for comfort.

    Interestingly from daily volumes, the one day it was nice and sunny last month across the majority of the country we saw a massive decline in usage. :o)

    just my 2 pence worth (oh and yea.. snow = mega bucks for the telco's!)
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    Hi James,

    Wow, thanks for that. I know our terrible weather has a lot of influence on us, but I never knew it influenced texting!

    Thanks,

    Samantha.
  • David Carrington · 1 year ago
    Throughout the day they just add up. I had a weekly system of wiping all texts off my phone, to stop it from slowing down when I opened my inbox. My new phone does threading, so that makes conversations easier to manage.

    Maybe 200+ each month were me playing around with making software for my phone too, but mostly the usual real texts.
  • Adam_Dempsey · 1 year ago
    I send between 2000 and 3000 a month, I very rarely make phone calls, I use sms to keep in contact with people etc as well as forwarding on jokes I recieve, which when a joke can be a few messages and I send it on to a few people, that can soon add up!
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    2000 and 3000 a month?

    Wow.
    I barely find the time to send around fifty texts a month - and most of them are to Twitter.

    If you don't mind me asking, how much does that cost you normally?

    Samantha.
  • JamesVincent · 1 year ago
    on a daily basis i send upto 60 messages. (thats including MMS) some days it can be upto 100. Times that by 31 days = 1860. I get 500 Messages Plus free Unlimited (2000). It's easier to text. If U think of somethin u wanna tell someone. just send a message.
    I must agree with Matt, when he says, With a text one is wanting to communicate. With Voice( ooh and video) calls, pay me attention. But of course I get through most of my 600 minutes because some things u just cant put in a message. Like when u need a good rant
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    Texting and ranting definitely do not go. I've tried it, and failed. Plus, there is nothing worse than reading a messag, which is really long (like my ones during a rant), and they take forever to update!
    Nightmare.

    Samantha.
  • Burak · 1 year ago
    Could it be that the English language lends itself better to texting? Perhaps French and German don't work so well in txt spk. How do we compare to other English speaking nations like the US and Australia?
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    Interesting point!

    I'll try and look that up.

    Thanks,
    Samantha.
  • Micky · 1 year ago
    I would say cost is the major factor why Brits send more texts than make calls. With expensive tarrifs, hidden costs, raising inflation, expensive fuel, cost of living going up more times a year than peoples salaries to match, sending texts is one way to save money.
  • Samantha · 1 year ago
    That is definitely a reason with yonger people like myself. Calling anyone is normally a last resort if they fail to text back!

    Samantha.
  • Chris & Helen at LG · 1 year ago
    As well as all the other answers here, is it also a thing of culture? Without wishing to over-generalise the pace of life on the continent is often slower than here in the UK and so they have more time to talk, whilst fast-pace Brits can only cram in a text?