Some interesting stats reported today on the amount that Canadians are using SMS to communicate. In 2010, Canadians collectively sent 56.4 billion text messages, and that number is steadily growing. With 18 billion text messages sent in Q1 of this year alone, we are well ahead of the curve to make this another year of growing stats for the system.

Why are we sending more and more messages using what is, by today’s standards, archaic technology? Text messaging has been around for years, and while it was originally an innovative way to utilize excess bandwidth on the network, it is by no means as reliable as many of the instant messaging clients available. Is it simply that more and more people are embracing mobile phones (not just smartphones) as a way of life, thus utilizing the service because it’s available? Is it perhaps the ever-growing number of younger mobile phone owners? Not to be stereotypical, but studies have already shown that mobile users as a whole are more likely to communicate via instant message than by phone, and teens are the worst of the lot when it comes to that.

Does the recent loss of market share by RIM have anything to do with this growth? Less utilization of BlackBerry Messenger, ergo more utilization of text once the users pick up a smartphone from another platform? Perhaps it is something as simple as the universal compatibility enjoyed with SMS. While I don’t consider it to be a reliable system of communication, at least I know that I can contact anyone with a mobile device, regardless of platform, via SMS.

Whatever the reason, one thing is clear. Canadians are communicating more and more with their fingers than with their voices.

[via: mobilesyrup]