SMS Or Short Messaging Service In Asia Pacific Region

Mobile communication in Asia particularly in the Asia Pacific region is still going on users. Every where in the Asia Pacific region, more specifically in the Philippines where everybody seemed to be texting everybody else, SMS or texting has now become a way of life. very strong. This, despite the near saturation level of mobile communication in many parts of the globe. SMS or short messaging service otherwise known as text messages is the most popular system of communication favored by nearly 85 per cent of cell phone.

Just imagine this. Two years ago, one of the three major Telecommunication companies serving the communication needs of the Philippines announced in a nationwide ad that they have reached their 50 millionth SMS/GMS subscriber. And do you know if how much is the total population of the country? As of the latest census done only last year, it

was 88 million. Remember, the 50 millionth customers were advertised by only one Telecommunication Company. How much will be the total SMS/GMS subscribers in the Philippines if you total the other two? No wonder the Philippines is being called the Texting capital of the world.

On the other hand, even thought there is still a continued trend of SMS volume of traffic in the Philippines, in some other parts of the Asia Pacific basin, countries like China and India are likewise beginning to feel the volume increase as many Chinese people are now more and more relying in SMS or text messages as their mode of communication through cell phones. In china, the penetration of mobile communication particularly the utilization of SMS or text messaging has just begun to be felt. In India, because of their strong economic growth, cell phone ownership has begun to flourish every where and together with this prevalent cell unit ownership, the volume of SMS or text messaging traffic is beginning to rise enormously, forcing Telecommunication companies to build cell sites as fast as they can to accommodate SMS traffic.

Almost all Telecommunication companies have benefited greatly with SMS or text messaging services. This is because SMS or text messaging service is considered as a no cost operating service provided by Telecommunication companies to support their voice messaging service. With voice communication using the hand held cell phone person to person, there is a cost that has to be charged by the telecom companies. With SMS or text messaging service, there is no cost, thus, SMS or text message services is sometimes called as a no cost application. This is the very reason why Telecommunication companies are raking in huge profit primarily due to their SMS or text messaging services.

This no cost to the Telecommunication company SMS or text messaging service is now the butt of a disagreement between the Philippine government and its three Telecommunication companies. The NTC or the National Telecommunication Company, which is a government agency tasked to oversee the operation of the Telecommunication

Industry of the country, is now requiring these communication companies to stop charging the Filipino people with their SMS or text services as they do not incur any cost in delivering this communication service and they have more than enough profit from charging the people of SMS or text services charges for so many years already when it was supposed to be free of any charges.