SMS, Global: Should Auld acquaintance be forgot? Not according to the record numbers of SMS sent this New Year. Thousands of miles, different time zones and even the seas and oceans proved no barrier for friends, family and loved ones this most recent New Year.

For the amount of SMS sent globally increased over 30% compared to New Year’s Eve 2005, to reach a staggering 33 billion messages sent worldwide. These statistics, which prove the continuing significance of SMS to the lives of billions of people, are being attributed to increased use of SMS by groups outside the traditional young-user segments

Responsible for handling more than half of all messages sent in the world, LogicaCMG has calculated that its systems processed around 18 billion messages on New Year’s Day, up one-third from the previous year. With around two billion active SMS users worldwide it is by far the largest messaging community in the world and, with mobile penetration on the rise, the future looks bright for SMS as the consumers’ choice for mobile communication.

Across the globe, record traffic growth in established messaging markets combined with a number of newer emerging SMS markets to cause a volume growth of messages far beyond anticipated levels. LogicaCMG, which serves over one billion subscribers in 135 countries across six continents, saw new traffic records for the last festive season across the majority of the world’s mobile markets, including the UK (29% growth), France (28% growth) and Thailand (close to 50% growth).

Henk de Boer, Senior Vice-President, Messaging at LogicaCMG said: “The double-digit growth of SMS sent globally proves that its relevance in the lives of people is stronger than ever. Mobile users are able to fully rely on the capability of SMS to guarantee real-time delivery of their personal messages to businesses, friends and family at time-critical moments.

“LogicaCMG expects this trend to continue further still as SMS and Internet-based messaging services such as mobile instant messaging are made interoperable. This New Year has demonstrated that far from reaching an end, SMS and mobility remain a key part of tomorrow’s lifestyle.”

• more info: www.logicacmg.com