Skype and WhatsApp use outstrips SMS data volumes
New research from Informa sheds light on growing popularity of IM smartphone services.

The volume of messaging traffic sent and received by over the top (OTT) services, such as Skype and WhatsApp, will be twice that of SMS services by the end of 2013.
That's according to recent data from market watcher Informa Telecoms and Media.
Its findings suggests 41 billion OTT messages and 19.5 billion SMS-based missives will be sent every day by the end of this year, despite fewer people having access to instant messaging apps on their devices.
The company claims there were around 3.5 billion SMS users in 2012, compared with 586.3 million OTT subscribers, with the former sending around five messages a day, while the latter rattled off a daily tally of 32.
Despite the figures, Informa claims it is unlikely that OTT services will kill off SMS messaging any time soon, as the use of both is predicted to rise well into 2016.
The analyst flagged three main drivers for this growth, including interoperability issues between the different OTT services.
"The adoption and use of OTT-messaging apps is far from universal," said the company in a statement.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
"Although there are multiple OTT-messaging communities within which mobile users can message each other for free, OTT-messaging users typically use SMS when communicating with non-OTT users; and SMS is starting to hit its stride in the enterprise mobile messaging market."
-
The race is on for Higher Ed to adapt: Equity in hyflex learning
Hyflex courses can improve student wellbeing and engagement, but only with meeting technology that leaves no one behind
-
Gen Z workers are keen on AI in the workplace – but they’re still skeptical about the hype
News Younger workers could lead the shift to AI, but only think it can can manage some tasks