| India is a country of a billion people. Over five | | | | subscribers used to send out hundreds of messages |
| hundred million people use mobile phones in India. The | | | | daily to all their contacts. |
| popularity of sending sms messages has been soaring | | | | In India, people send out texts to each other to |
| in India and shows no signs of slowing down. Why is | | | | share forwards, jokes, greetings on festivals, |
| this happening more in India than in other countries | | | | important information, etc. Also the fact that every |
| like the United States? | | | | other person has a mobile phone makes it more |
| First of all, users are not charged for receiving SMSes | | | | popular than even email. Companies like Airtel are |
| on their cell phones in India. In United States, people | | | | shifting their corporate communication between |
| are charged for receiving text messages. So in India, | | | | company employees from email to text messages. |
| people don't mind or care about who is sending them | | | | Also, recently it was revealed that the cost of |
| text messages because it doesn't cost them | | | | sending a single text message costs as less as one |
| anything. Second thing is the cost of sending text | | | | paisa (around 1/50th of a cent). So the cost of |
| messages. In India, the cost of sending a single | | | | sending SMS messages will go down in future hence |
| message is sometimes less than talking on the phone. | | | | fueling further growth. |
| Also, you can purchase bulk packs in which you can | | | | Sending a SMS is considered non-intrusive. People |
| send out many more messages at a very less cost. | | | | generally text and ask if they can call the person. |
| When Reliance Communications, one of the biggest | | | | The medium of text messaging is a very friendly |
| telecom companies in India launched, they kept text | | | | medium for the masses and its popularity is unlikely |
| messaging free for nearly an year. Some of its | | | | to wane in a country like India. |