Chinese people are expected to send 550 billion short messages
this year, doubling mobile phone operators' revenues to some US$6.7
billion.
China, home to the world's largest mobile phone market, has 100
million users who will double the number of short messages they
send this year, according to the Ministry of Information
Industry.
China Mobile, the country's largest mobile telecommunications
operator, is expected to handle 350 billion short messages in 2004
compared to 170 billion in 2003.
China Unicom, the country's No.2 operator, has forecast it will
carry 200 billion short messages, or four times as many as last
year.
By 2006 mobile phone users are likely to send 1.4 trillion short
messages, equivalent to US$17 billion in charges, the report
said.
Mobile phone users currently pay operators 0.1 yuan (US$0.01) to
0.15 yuan for each message sent.
Online operators like Netease are also trying to enter or build
up their presence in the lucrative business.
(Shenzhen Daily August 13, 2004)