The demise of the text

Commenting on Deloitte's annual Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions report, which shows the number of text messages sent in the UK fell for the first time last year, and predicts this figure will fall still further in 2014, Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, says:

"The SMS has long been a fundamental feature of mobile phones and a massive part of our social tapestry, with the younger generation using clever shortenings to make the most of a scant 160-character limit.
 
"But the explosion in popularity of smartphones has changed the way we communicate, connect and gather information, exposing the limitations of the humble text message.
 
"Instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and the now widely available BBM, have eclipsed the SMS by offering the chance to send images, reams of video and even audio over the airwaves for free. It’s no coincidence that 95% of mobile phone contracts are now offering unlimited texts, while data often comes at a premium – you can’t even give text messages away.
 
"We're already witnessing the slow death of the landline, and Deloitte's research shows the text message isn't far behind."