Canadians Sending Fewer Text Messages: 23 Billion in Q3 2013

The CWTA has released new number for text messages sent in Canada for Q3 2013, and it shows a decline compared to Q1 2013 for text messages; MMS messages and Common Short Code messages however, are on the rise. Here are the new numbers:

• 23 billion text messages sent, an average of 250 million per day (Q1 2013: 24 billion; 270 million per day)
• 316 million MMS messages sent (Q1 2013: 231 million). As of Sept. 2013, Canadians are sending an average of 3.5 million MMS messages per day (Q1 2013: 2.6 million)
• Canadians sent and received a total of 697 million text messages using Common Short Codes (Q1 2013: 568 million). These are the 5 or 6 digit codes you text to automated services

Below is an updated chart (via CWTA) of text messages—note the decline in the first three quarters of this year—it’ll be interesting to see how this chart evolves:

Most likely this is a result of people adopting more smartphones and relying on data-based messaging services such as iMessage, WhatsApp, BBM (!), etc.

What do you use more? Regular text messages or another messaging system such as iMessage or WhatsApp? Remember, don’t call me unless it’s an absolute emergency (like you’re on fire); just text me instead!