Kiwis on track for record SMS rates

Fairfax

HO, HO: New Zealanders are expected to send a record amount of text messages this Christmas.

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Kiwis are expected to let their fingers do the talking at Christmas with text messages set to soar to record heights.

Telecom is predicting more than 23 million SMS messages will be sent throughout today, [Dec 25] while Vodafone predicts customers will send a similar volume with around one million per hour.

A Telecom spokeswoman said the prediction was based on last year's record of 23m, which is expected to be smashed this year as mobile phone use excels.

Text messages continue to be a popular way for Kiwis to send seasons' greetings to loved ones both nationally and overseas.

"We're expecting to get at least that this year because mobile rates are growing," she said.

Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen said while Christmas Day saw text message volumes double, it was New Year's Eve which really put the network under strain.

SMS message volumes increase by up to six times, particularly around midnight as friends and family text one another New Year's greetings.

Mr Brislen could not predict how many texts would be sent this New Year as it was becoming more common for mass "group text" messages to be sent to multiple numbers programmed in cellphones.

He said it was a huge challenge for networks was to handle "the wash" of messages, which often meant some messages failed to send.

"Text messages are quite clever though and they will try and deliver for up to three days [after being sent]."

- © Fairfax NZ News