Is there evidence that this is actually happening?
Neven Mrgan, an app developer for Apple’s mobile operating system, saw a noticeable decline in the number of standard text messages he was sending almost immediately after Apple rolled out its software on Oct. 12.
My own phone records are showing a similar phenomenon:
From January through October of last year, the average number of texts I sent hovered around 7,000 a month. But in November, that figure dropped to 5,910. In December, it dipped sharply again, to 4,893. My voice minutes slipped as well, from 993 minutes in October to 846 in November and down again to 587 minutes in December.
Curiously, my data use during the same period skyrocketed, nearly doubling from October to November. But that is most likely because I used data-guzzling applications like Spotify during jogs, Beejive to keep up with Gchat on the phone and Instagram to post pictures while out and about in the city — and not from sending and receiving iMessages, which consume a negligible amount of data on the network.
All of this lines up with changes the carriers are making as they ready themselves for the coming shift to data use, adjusting price plans to shore up their financials. Rather than rely on revenue from voice services, they are eyeing the money-making potential of data-based services and applications.
Although the number of text messages sent by cellphone customers in the United States is still growing, that growth is slowing, and many analysts expect that it will gradually taper off. Countries like Finland and Hong Kong are already seeing serious shifts in the number of text messages their cellphone customers send.
AT&T and Verizon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether they were noticing an impact on their businesses.
Readers with iPhones, share your stories in the comment section below. Are you noticing a shift in your use of text messaging?