We like to text more than we like to talk
According to Nielsen Mobile, the average cell phone user in the U.S. sends or receives more text messages than actual phone calls. The average user sent or recieved 357 text messages versus 204 calls each month, as of the second quarter of this year.
As you might expect, those numbers are strongly affected by younger cell phone users. The 13 to 17 year-old age group sent or received 1,742 text messages against 231 phone calls.
The oldest users - those 65 and up - still lag considerably, with 99 phone calls and 14 text messages per month.
Still, this isn’t just a teen movement. The 35-44 age group had 236 text messages and 223 phone calls.
Apparently the rise in popularity of the full QWERTY-style keypads has contributed considerably to the text-heavy trend.
I can see this in my own life. I find myself sending so many more text messages now that I have a phone with a full keypad. And I also find myself writing messages that consist of more than just four or five words.
So do you text more than you talk? Why or why not?
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
I would say I’m about even. I make a lot of calls, though. I probably send about 300-ish text/picture messages a month.
I have a T-Mobile Dash with full keyboard. My G1 will be here near the end of the month with it’s full keyboard. I could never go back to a T9 phone.
I don’t really text much (and it ticks me off when someone asks for my number to ‘call’ me, and then they send text messages… I have to pay for those and I’m not happy about it).
I’ll pick up the phone and call, or send an email, depending.
I’m in my mid-20’s, so it’s not like it’s a foreign concept, I just have no interest (unless say, my husband and I are at a conference, and need to meet up after a session gets out… or if he’s in another country, it’s cheaper than calling… but, that’s about it).
I guess I am not main stream as I have not sent a text message since I have had a cell phone. I do not like to use my cell for anything except to make or receive a phone call and that is not often.
I text more than I talk because I’ve never really liked talking on the phone. I only talk on the phone if I need to get a response right away. Otherwise, I text. I also text when I’m in situations when talking isn’t appropriate…somewhere quiet or crowded.
A couple of Christmas’ ago, my wife bought me a Bluetooth earpiece for my cell phone…but I returned it. I just don’t talk that much on my cell phone. I do tons of email on it, and texting. I’m with you, Babujai1…I’ve never really loved talking on the phone.
Funny: My daughter texts a lot more than talks on her phone, too. In fact, she and the boy she was dating almost never talked. Always text.
I have had cell phones for 10 years, and have never sent a text. I couldn’t do it to save my life, as I don’t know how and am not interested in learning. After receiving a couple stray text messages that came to me as a “wrong number”, I called my provider and had my text capability blocked. Guess I’ve never been in a situation where I thought a text was needed. I can always leave a voice mail if someone doesn’t answer my call.
Is anything more annoying that people with cell phones who won’t text?
I’ve only had a cell phone for 2-3 years. I barely use it to make/receive calls (I’d much rather use a land line). I have yet to send/receive a text.
What exactly makes that annoying?