The transition to 4G represents a significant leap in the capabilities of mobile technology. From just about anywhere, mobile users can transfer extraordinary amounts of data in next to no time at all. This has allowed for the introduction of more powerful applications that had previously been thought unsuitable for mobile purposes. With all this change and development, where does it all leave SMS though? Is the simple and reliable messaging service that has served us so well for more than 15 years finally at the end of its life?

Despite its age, the use of SMS has increased dramatically over the last few years. While there are now signs that this is slowing, it is still a leading source of revenue for mobile providers. It is estimated that in the United States alone, it brings them over $25 billion of revenue annually.

4G, however, has changed the landscape and as a result, a number of challengers SMS have emerged. Instant messaging services are one of these that are becoming increasingly prevalent amongst those using smart phone technology. Applications like Apple’s iMessage and Blackberry messenger allow users to communicate through internet connections rather than mobile networks. As a result, they don’t incur any message charges which makes the standard 11 Cent cost for sending a 160 character SMS message look like a relic of the past.

The reason SMS has not been overtaken though is its widespread usage and lingering popularity. Lacking the ubiquity of SMS, mobile messengers generally only allow users to communicate with others using the same application. Therefore, when all else fails, it is still SMS they turn to if they really need to get in touch.

Perhaps when a viable alternative emerges that works across platforms and is widely used will the supremacy of SMS be under threat. But in the meantime, you can be sure that SMS will have a central role to play in the 4G world.

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