10 Interesting SMS Facts in the Age of the Internet


Amidst the rise of the internet as a changing paradigm of technological revolution,  SMS remains to be an integral part of daily communication. In fact,  the simplicity and efficiency of SMS make it one of the most successful marketing tools of the digital age. 

According to Fast SMS  (UK SMS Marketing Blog), even smartphone user seems to prefer the old technology, with only 43% using their phone to make calls while 70 % of smartphone users sent text messages. To think of it, it might take us more time to respond to an email than take just 90 seconds to respond to a text. No wonder why SMS is still alive and even thriving in the age of the internet!

In this blog post, we are going to have a fair share of interesting facts about the notable history of SMS (text messaging) and updates on how it still dominates today’s line of communication and digital marketing. 

  1. The first text message was sent in 1992 in the United Kingdom.Sent by Neil Papworth to Richard Jarvis, you may think that the first SMS exchange used two mobile phones. Nope. Papworth actually used a personal computer to text Jarvis’ Orbitel 901 handset. The message? “MERRY CHRISTMAS”. The rest—as they say—is history.
  2. “Burp”, the first commercial text message sent in 1993In 1993, the Irish engineer Brennan Hayden sent the first commercial text message “burp”. The word had nothing to do with its original function in biology but was used to signify rather the birth of the new communication technology.
  3. 9 out of 10 people open their text messagesIn some statistics about the comparison of reading rate between email and text marketing, messaging wins by a landslide. Nearly 100 % of people that you send SMS are likely to open and read them while 20 % only of email recipients may read them.The efficiency of usage is the reason behind it. Mobile push notification is a default setting so anyone can read instantly while reading an email requires logging in to an inbox and some message might be placed in the spam folder.
  4. Filipinos send out as many as 1 billion text messages on a regular day.Text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service, with 74% of all mobile users worldwide, or 2.4 billion out of 3.3 billion phone subscribers communicating via SMS. The feature appealed greatly to people living in developing countries like the Philippines.

    In 2009, the Philippines sent 2.36 billion text messages during the holiday season, as cited In a report in PC World. With that, the Philippines remains to be the most prolific text  messaging center in the world up to now.

  5. There are more phones than people in the Philippines.In 2020, there were approximately 79 million smartphone users in the country, reflecting an the upward trend since 2017. Of course, one Filipino may own 2 or more phones depending on their purpose. It was forecasted that by 2025, there would be around 91.5 million smartphone users in the country.
  6. SMS reaches a broad demographic.SMS has been existing for 2 decades already. And that only means, even the oldest member of your family how to send and receive a text message. Also, no matter what the model of the phone is, the text messaging function is present. Thus, different types of demographics are reachable through using SMS.
  7. SMS Marketing is more cost-effective than any other marketing medium.No wonder SMS takes off so well among Filipino users. Affordability is the key to easy communication.  Despite so many options in the age of the internet, SMS marketing is the best way for start-ups or small businesses to at least emerge their marketing move while being cost-effective.
  8. People prefer  getting text messages from organizations

    Phone marketing has been around for a while in businesses, but new research suggests that 70%  of people prefer getting text messages rather than phone calls when contacted for marketing purposes. They feel more comfortable reading a text message because it is time efficient and can be saved in the inbox as a note.
  9. 62 % of businesses said the biggest advantage of SMS is quick delivery

    If you want your clients to get your message fast, SMS is the best option. According to marketing statistics, more than 50 % of business owners trust the efficiency of delivering a message to their clients. The content also in an SMS is direct to the point than other options. Most give the mode of communication a higher priority because it brings the results they  want immediately.
  10. SMS has a direct call to action.Sending SMS to potential clients or buyers must be strategic. One feature of  SMS is its the automated message that also issues a time-specific call to action. This generated a huge amount of interest on the other side. The rapid response rate means the potential clients will be actively engaged with the message as it also creates a sense of urgency.Along with the engagement, the SMS campaign also develops brand loyalty with consistent clients or buyers. If customers feel special opting into the campaign, then treating them to exclusive SMS- only deals will make them stay.  SMS builds that harmonious relationship in business.

With the listed facts, this only shows the use of SMS is a better deal, has a wider reach, and is open to active communication with the target market. Also, it is able to adapt as well to the age of the internet. The mobile phone market is even predicted to skyrocket during and even after the pandemic. By 2027, the mobile market is expected to reach almost 338 billion. The market is nearly 33%. Regardless of these facts, some companies in the country are still not taking full advantage of this. 

Overall, SMS is an edge marketing and communications tool by some of the biggest brands worldwide. Used to full effect, SMS helps drive business and sales, while also fostering customer relationships. 

Start your very own SMS campaign today by visiting https://www.mybusybee.net/ or emailing us at sales@mybusybee.net.