SMS traffic at New Year forecasted to shatter previous record levels

Airwide Solutions, the provider of next-generation mobile messaging and mobile internet infrastructure, applications and solutions, has announced its forecast for this year's New Year mobile messaging peak. The short message service (SMS) celebrated its heritage and strong performance, turning fifteen this year, and is forecast to continue its consistent growth and annual celebratory peak.
 
This year Airwide anticipates the US to lead the western world with nearly 730 million messages expected to be sent to bring in the new year. The UK also continues to be a leader in the west with 280 million messages expected to be sent, equivalent to 4.6 texts per capita. Yet it is Asia that should witness the largest volumes. Despite the main celebration in China being during Chinese New Year later in the year, Airwide still expects SMS volumes for the 31st December to 1st January celebrations to beat the rest of the world. A typical day in China sees 1.6 billion texts sent, outdoing the previous leaders the Philippines.
 
Switzerland is the most prolific at texting their friends and families as the clock strikes midnight, sending nearly seven times as many messages at New Year than on an average day, with over 75 million SMS predicted to be sent. This is closely followed by Greeks, who send just under five times as many messages as a typical day, this year expecting to see 35 million messages at New Year.
 
On a more modest level, but still topping previous growth, Telenor in Norway can expect to see 33.4 million SMS New Year messages. Similarly, Czech Republic could send 3.3 times as many mobile messages to greet the New Year as they do on a typical day, with over 55 million expected. Belgium is forecast to double its 2004 New Year figure to 46.7 million messages.
 
The French, on the other hand, seem to prefer the traditional face-to-face greetings at New Year, as they send no more mobile messages at New Year than any other typical day, currently around 51 million messages.
 
"Airwide was involved in the sending of the first ever SMS message, fifteen years ago this December. Back then no-one anticipated it to become so prolific. Mobile messaging, led by SMS, still continues to grow and is now complimented by multimedia mobile messaging, mobile marketing, location based services and now mobile instant messaging," says Jay Seaton, CMO of Airwide Solutions. "New Year is usually the biggest peak in messaging every year and this year will be no exception."