Thanks to the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones and mobile broadband in the Caribbean, with respect to non-voice communication, users appear to prefer instant messaging (IM) services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and even Viber, to name a few. Generally, when planning to connect with others, those applications (apps) tend to be the go-to options, rather than using the Short Messaging Service (SMS). SMS, also referred to as text messaging, is rarely mentioned.
However, ironically and in this day and age – 2016 to be exact – SMS is still a force in the region. Although frequently it is overlooked, here are four reasons why it is still popular.
Every phone has SMS capability
As sophisticated as the mobile/cellular phone has become, every device – from the most basic of handsets to the most high-end of smartphones – possesses SMS capability. It therefore means that fundamentally, every mobile/cellular device on a mobile/cellular network can communicate with each other: by voice calls and by text messaging.
An attractive channel for marketing and other services
Through the network operator, third parties can connect directly with every phone on the network – once they are prepared to pay. For example, SMS has been popular for marketing campaigns and to provide a broad range of services to people in the lower socioeconomic brackets – a large segment of the population – who tend to own basic handsets. Hence, SMS can provide considerable revenue generation opportunities for network operators.
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