Comments on: Texting Overtakes Voice in US Mobile Phone Usage: Nielsen’s Report http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/texting-overtakes-voice-in-us-mobile-phone-usage-nielsens-report/ LIRNEasia Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:13:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Rohan Samarajiva http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/texting-overtakes-voice-in-us-mobile-phone-usage-nielsens-report/comment-page-1/#comment-15554 Rohan Samarajiva Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:06:43 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2529#comment-15554 Our analysis of the data from the BOP Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Philippines pointed to the ratio between the cost of a call and an SMS as the key determinant of SMS use. India, where an SMS cost about the same as a one minute call had the lowest use. We are wary about extrapolating from Asia to other places as much as we are wary about extrapolating from other regions to Asia. But this would indeed be a good starting point for analysis. Also, you have to understand that the significance of price for those at the bottom of the pyramid may not be the same as for those at the top. US has a lot of bucket pricing--buckets of minutes, buckets of SMS. So straight comparisons will be tough. One can also imagine that the psychology of a user of SMS that comes as a part of a bucket is different from one who is paying for an individual SMS. Our analysis of the data from the BOP Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Philippines pointed to the ratio between the cost of a call and an SMS as the key determinant of SMS use. India, where an SMS cost about the same as a one minute call had the lowest use.

We are wary about extrapolating from Asia to other places as much as we are wary about extrapolating from other regions to Asia. But this would indeed be a good starting point for analysis. Also, you have to understand that the significance of price for those at the bottom of the pyramid may not be the same as for those at the top.

US has a lot of bucket pricing–buckets of minutes, buckets of SMS. So straight comparisons will be tough. One can also imagine that the psychology of a user of SMS that comes as a part of a bucket is different from one who is paying for an individual SMS.

]]> By: Absent http://lirneasia.net/2008/09/texting-overtakes-voice-in-us-mobile-phone-usage-nielsens-report/comment-page-1/#comment-15546 Absent Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:08:18 +0000 http://lirneasia.net/?p=2529#comment-15546 I presume the relative cost of sending a sms is lower in US and this may be the reason for the above. It is interesting to see Sri Lankan Situation. If the above argument is true the sms usage should decline given the low voice tarrif, Per second billing and all you can eat type of pricing plans. Hope lirnasia have some data relating this or prof. could share his view on this. I presume the relative cost of sending a sms is lower in US and this may be the reason for the above.

It is interesting to see Sri Lankan Situation. If the above argument is true the sms usage should decline given the low voice tarrif, Per second billing and all you can eat type of pricing plans.

Hope lirnasia have some data relating this or prof. could share his view on this.

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