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The Market for Common Short Codes
The Rise of Text Messaging in the U.S.
Common Short Codes
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The Rise of Text Messaging in the U.S.
In November 2001, wireless service providers began to connect their networks for text messaging, allowing subscribers on different networks to exchange text messages. The phenomenon of text messaging had caught on in Europe and Asia a few years earlier, but the U.S. had many unique challenges in combining networks running different technologies (CDMA, TDMA, GSM, iDEN) to enable truly open text messaging across all networks. Since the groundbreaking launch of AT&T Wireless' inter-carrier text messaging program in November 2001, followed by a CTIA-led interoperability consortium including national carriers and others early in 2002, the number of text messages in the United States has grown astronomically to over seven (7) billion messages sent every month.

The potential is enormous. Common Short Codes will enable the continued growth of text messaging and provide a platform upon which new technologies will be able to flourish. Market developments like picture messaging (or MMS) and the continued evolution of Instant Messaging into the wireless medium make text messaging one of the most exciting, yet simple, breakthroughs, since the advent of the telephone itself!

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