Text messaging which has revolutionized the way of communication is facing threat from rise of free voice, video and text messaging applications on smartphones, According to AFP. SMS offers users a cheap way to keep in touch with friends and family and avoid the expense of voice calls.

According to technology research firm Ovum, SMS contributed about 57% of non-voice revenues for telecom companies globally in 2009 but this is projected to fall to 47% this year.

Ovum estimates the rise of alternative messaging services has slashed $8.7 billion from the revenues of telecom operators worldwide in 2010 and $13.9 billion in 2011.

“SMS in the next few years will contribute less and less to non-voice revenue for operators,” said Neha Dharia, a consumer telecoms analyst at Ovum.

“Consumers now have the ability to send text messaging through a variety of ways, such as IM (instant messaging), messaging apps, social networks and so on,” she told AFP.

“These products offer greater features and are competitively priced or even free. SMS is a more expensive option in certain markets and the interface is not as user friendly or intuitive as other messaging products in the market.”