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More SMS than CALLS: Phone calls take backseat to Text Messaging

As of Q2 2008, a typical U.S. mobile subscriber sends or receives 357 text messages per month, compared to placing or receiving 204 phone calls.  Though the number of calls has remained relatively steady, the number of text messages is up 450% from just two years prior.  Q2 2008 was the second consecutive quarter in which the average number of text messages sent was significantly higher than the average number of phone calls placed.

Average Number of Monthly Calls vs. Text Messages Among U.S. Wireless Subscribers
Phone Calls Text Messages
Qtr 1, 2006 198 65
Qtr 2, 2006 216 79
Qtr 3, 2006 221 85
Qtr 4, 2006 213 108
Qtr 1, 2007 208 129
Qtr 2, 2007 228 172
Qtr 3, 2007 226 193
Qtr 4, 2007 213 218
Qtr 1, 2008 207 288
Qtr 2, 2008 204 357

The insights come from Nielsen Mobile, a service of The Nielsen Company, which directly measures billing activity through an opt-in panel of more than 50,000 personally liable, postpaid U.S. mobile lines across the top four carriers.  Through the billing data, Nielsen reports on everything from how many text messages subscribers send to what games and ringtones they download.In addition to showing the trend of texts compared to calls, Nielsen’s research shows that the typical U.S. teen mobile subscriber (ages 13–17) now sends or receives 1,742 text messages per month (compared to making or receiving 231 mobile phone calls).

Average Number of Monthly Calls vs. Text Messages Among U.S. Wireless Subscribers (by age)
Phone Calls Text Messages
All Subscribers 204 357
12 & Under 137 428
Ages 13 - 17 231 1742
Ages 18 - 24 265 790
Ages 25 - 34 239 331
Ages 35 - 44 223 236
Ages 45 -54 193 128
Ages 55 - 64 145 38
Ages 65+ 99 14

October 1, 2008 in General, Mobile Marketing Trends, Mobile Messaging, SMS, Text Messaging

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