The first ever SMS text message was sent by developed Neil Papworth in 1992, it read “Merry Christmas”. This was the message that marked the start of a global phenomenon and ever since then people have been sending each other text messages every time a special event comes around.
www.rightnobile.co.uk recently commissioned some research into the area and found that this year will most likely see more people sending each other Xmas texts rather than Xmas cards. 66% of respondents claimed that they would buy their immediate relatives a card at Christmas, but only 42% admitted that they would do likewise for their friends. However over 2/3rds of respondents confirmed that they would be sending a Merry Christmas SMS text message to their friends.
The main reasons cited by respondents were the cheapness of the medium (31% chose as the most important factor) and ease of use versus buying and sending a card (41%). A smaller group (5%) admitted that they usually sent text messages instead because they had forgotten to buy a card.
SMS is clearly a great way to communicate with our friends and family, it is cheap and also much more environmentally friendly, so this year don’t hold your breath for that card… you can probably expect a text in your inbox instead!
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