Teens View Text Messaging Plans As Restrictive

According to a new survey conducted by the US based cellular operator, MetroPCS Communications, nearly a third of today's teens and young adults believe their current text messaging plan is restrictive, with over 40% saying it led to a higher cell phone bill. Furthermore, according to those surveyed, the average number of text messages sent per day was between six and seven; however, the majority of those surveyed said they would send more text messages if their cell phone plan was not restrictive on text messaging.

With approximately one-third of MetroPCS' customer base in the youth segment, the target age of "text messagers," the company conducted a survey to track text messaging trends, including when and why consumers are most likely to use this rapidly growing form of communication.

"We continue to see a growing trend of text messaging among wireless users, but those same users are becoming more value-oriented than ever," said Roger Linquist, MetroPCS founder and CEO. "While many wireless providers offer text-messaging, most charge on a per-message basis which often creates outrageous cell phone bills. Our survey reinforces the idea that consumers want the freedom to text or speak as much as they want for a flat rate."

Additional key findings from the survey include:

• The majority of those surveyed said their parent/guardian paid for their cell phone bill.
• Nearly half of all respondents said they use text talk language, with "LOL" or "laugh-outloud" being the most used text talk word.
• Most respondents learned text talk language primarily through instant messaging services, followed by learning from their friends, making it up on their own or by other people text messaging them.

Posted to the site on 13th January 2006