Text Patterns

Sez TechNewsWorld:

A new survey from America Online's Tegic Communications division shows that a "surprising number of people in America and Europe are sending Christmas and Hanukkah greetings by text messaging this year, rather than through conventional, paper cards via the mail.

Wait--people send Hanukkah greetings? So when companies and individuals say "Happy Holidays" they may actually be extending good wishes to people who celebrate a holiday other than Christmas? Wow, that's shocking. But I digress...

The survey is based on data from the U.S. and five countries in Europe, AOL told the E-Commerce Times. When asked whether they have or would send a "Merry Christmas" text message, the following percentages in an array of countries said yes, including:

The U.S., 39 percent
The U.K., 56 percent
France, 66 percent
Germany, 79 percent
Spain, 88 percent
Italy, 91 percent
In addition, when mobile users were asked whether they have or would send a "Happy New Year" text message, the figures were rougly equivalent:

U.S., 35 percent
France, 85 percent
Germany, 88 percent
Spain, 90 percent
Italy, 92 percent