News 2000
With Love From?
09/02/2000
Mobile messaging: the new romance this Valentine's Day
- Half of all mobile phone users expect Valentine's text message from a lover
- One in four to use text messaging to ask someone out on Feb 14
- One in four have sent sloppy messages to wrong person
- One in 16 married people secretly still in touch with ex-lover via text messaging
After centuries of one-sided declarations of love, the anonymous Valentine's message finally has a chance of leading somewhere. A report commissioned by Virgin Mobile reveals that over half of the UK's 24 million mobile phone users (57%) would consider sending a text message (SMS) from their phone rather than a Valentine's card.
The Virgin Mobile 'Love' poll shows a soaring interest in e-romance. Whilst traditionalists have always 'said it with roses', the seductive text message now gives the object of someone's desire the chance to reply - just at the touch of a button.
Virgin Mobile's survey shows up some strange February 14th habits:
Singles are by far the most likely to see the virtues of text messaging. In fact, over half of all singles (57%) with mobile phones will be waiting patiently for a romantic text message on Valentine's Day.
46% would consider text messaging to tell someone they fancied them. And a daring one in four will go a step further by asking their perfect partner on a date.
Asked about the most attractive feature of their mobile, seven per cent of singles rated the vibrating qualities of their handset. Enough said.
It seems romance is not lost when it comes to marriage either. Over half (52%) of 'hitched' people like their partners having mobiles so they can be in contact at all times of the day. And one in ten (11%) regularly message their loved ones with sloppy notes during working hours.
Some individuals utilise their phone for more sinister means, however. 17% like to keep tabs on their other halves' whereabouts and over half would consider using a text message, if they were giving their partner the 'brush-off' after a row.
Six per cent of married people also admitted to still being in clandestine contact with an ex-partner via text messaging. And eight per cent of mobile users with long-standing partners even use messaging to set up secret dates.
Women are more likely to remember a special occasion such as Valentine's Day. But, when it comes to romance, men are more likely than women to express themselves via the written word rather than face-to-face. A poetic license, or just a fear of confrontation?
7% of men would even consider sending romantic words to an ex-partner on February 14th. Their female counterparts, in contrast, are more likely to send a nasty note to put a previous fling in his place.
With everything said, text messages should still be taken with a pinch of salt. Of those polled, over one in five (22%) said they were likely to send such messages when they were drunk. This probably accounts for the 26% who said they often sent embarrassing or sexual messages to the wrong people accidentally.
23 million Valentine's cards were bought on February 14th last year, at a total cost of £39 million.
Virgin Mobile spokesman Steven Day comments: "Whoever said romance is dead clearly never used a mobile phone. Mobile text messaging is the perfect way to flatter a partner or potential date. And, if you are really sneaky, you can even hedge your bets by sending the same message to any number of prospective dates".
