| In 2006, 300 billion text messages were sent in China, | | | | customers in Europe and Asia have, Canadians are still |
| 140 billion were sent in the Philippines, and 40 billion | | | | adopting text messaging at an alarming rate with |
| were sent in the UK. How does Canada match up? | | | | unbelievable growth in year over year (.75B in 2004, |
| The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications | | | | 1.5B in 2005 and 4.3B in 2006). |
| Association (CWTA - has reported that just over 4.3 | | | | Text messaging has become a worldwide |
| billion text messages were sent by Canadians last | | | | phenomenon and is being used in unique ways around |
| year. | | | | the globe beyond just person-to-person messaging. In |
| So, why have Canadians been slow to adopt this | | | | Australia, the Bible Society translated all 31,173 verses |
| technology? Text messaging is far more popular in | | | | of the Bible into 'SMS language' in the hope of |
| Europe and Asia primarily due to the high costs of | | | | spreading the holy word to a younger audience. In |
| voice communication; hence there is a monetary | | | | Indonesia, officials are working on a text messaging |
| incentive to use text messaging. In the UK, customers | | | | system to warn its residents of an incoming Tsunami. |
| who are with the mobile operator 'Orange', pay 75 | | | | In the Philippines, text messaging played a significant |
| cents per minute to call customers on a different | | | | role in the 2001 coup against former President Joseph |
| network but pay only 25 cents to send a text | | | | Estrada. |
| message. Even without the monetary incentive that | | | | |