Mobile web usage grows as text boom continues

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Users' hunger for mobile data consumption shows no signs of abating, with figures published today by the Mobile Data Association text and picture messaging and browsing the web on the move are all growing massively in popularity.

During 2007, SMS volumes grew by 40 per cent year-on-year, helping the total to exceed 59 billion, with MMS also gaining momentum to surpass 448 million, according to the MDA's first quarterly 'state of the nation' report.

December was also a particularly buoyant month, as is usually the case due to a seasonal spike in activity, with almost 5,000 texts sent per second and more than 290 million messages sent on New Year's Eve - 30 per cent up on that day in 2006.

The number of mobile internet users is also enjoying someone of a growth spurt. In 2007, its total user base shot up from just over 16 million to 17.58 million last - equating to almost a quarter (23 per cent) of overall mobile users in the UK.

"The report contains some very compelling indications that mobile usage is

Evolving," said Mike Short, chairman of the MDA. "While the strong upward curve of SMS volumes continues, perhaps a more telling headline number is the penetration of mobile internet usage and multi-media messaging (MMS). We are really starting to see a much greater variety of mobile data volumes. New devices, competitive data tariffs and wider content choice mean it has never been easier for users to send an email, take a picture or access internet content. This is a very important set of indicators."

Given the rapid industry growth, Short predicts a bright future for mobile. "The mobile industry remains one of the fastest growing sectors throughout the world," he said. "Whether you look at Asia, India, Europe or the UK, the story is the same;

mobile technology is enhancing and even shaping the way we live our daily

lives."

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