US Texts Now Outnumber Calls

Americans now send more text messages than they make phone calls—a major change in communication habits that is being driven by teenagers, CNET reports. Cell phone users sent and received 357 text messages in the second quarter of 2008, compared with making and receiving 204 phone calls. Teens between the ages of 13 and 17 send an average of 1,742 text messages per month.

It's a quantum leap from the same quarter in 2006, when Americans sent and received just 65 text messages per month. And while Europeans use texting to dodge hefty international roaming fees for voice calls, the technology is a cash cow for US service providers. Over the past 2 years the cost of texting has jumped 100% outside of special SMS plans, to 20 cents per text.
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