Silver surfers discover joy of text

MOVE over, kids, the 'silver texters' are in town. While texting - sending text messages from mobile phones - has until now been the preserve of teenagers, the older generation is determined not to be left behind.

Three years ago the phrase 'silver surfer' was born, reflecting rising numbers of older people going online. Their 'time-rich, cash-rich' lifestyle meant that they became a significant force in the growth of the internet.

Now the same generation has turned its attention to the latest technological craze - texting.

Mick Jagger, pop's most famous grandfather, is no stranger to text and is rumoured to have chatted up women by sending text messages. He is not alone. Industry figures show that 'silver texters' are one of the fasting-growing groups when it comes to mobile messaging. And the willingness of older people to embrace the new technology could change the way companies view the marketing potential of texting.

A recent survey by internet bank Egg and pollster Mori showed that about 39% of people had used short message service (SMS) messaging. And over-55s are the fastest-growing age group, with 1.3 million now texting, compared with just over a million a year ago.

The growth in 'silver texting' is not confined to the UK. An international survey of 2,400 mobile phone users by management consultants A. T. Kearney and Cambridge University's Business School found that while text messaging had grown by 10% since January, the increase in the 35-54 age group is 20% and 14% among people above 55.

Paul Collins of A. T. Kearney said: 'Having initially appealed as a cheap and handy communication tool for youngsters, SMS is now rapidly being adopted by adults.'

And, according to the Mobile Data Association, 29% of the over-55s 'speak fluent text', the abbreviated language of texters.

Pamir Gelembe, director of corporate development at mobile marketing company Flytxt, attributes the rise in older texting to the younger generation. 'A lot of teenagers send texts to their parents and grandparents,' he says. 'They realised that they would have to learn how to use text.

'Growth in the market is now fuelled by the older user, which means there are broader marketing opportunities.'