Brits sent an average of 1.2 billion text messages every week during the month of September, equivalent to the same number of messages sent during the whole of 1999.

Industry body the Mobile Data Association (MDA) said Monday that a total of 4.825 billion messages were sent during September 2007, highlighting a 25 per cent growth in mobile messaging compared to 2006.

As a result, the MDA has revised its annual predicted total figure for messages sent in 2007 from 48 billion to 52 billion messages. That’s upwards of 4,000 sent every minute, or 70 text messages per person per month.

Mike Short, chairman of the MDA, said the explosion in SMSes is largely a result of bundles, which give all customers a deal to suit their own mobile usage needs. Text messaging is also simple and effective technology that works on every phone, at home or abroad.

“The UK text volumes show no real signs of abating and the UK sits within the top six of the Global league of countries sending text messages. While the trend towards operators offering ‘all-you-can-eat’ tariffs increases, this will act as a catalyst for consumer’s passion for all things mobile,” said Short.