– Joanna Styczen, Technical Writing Director, iMiller Public Relations, says:
The term OTT, or Over-the-Top messages, encompasses all mobile messages sent over the data network and not a wireless network like standard SMS texts. Today, the most common OTT messaging applications include Facebook Messenger, Kik, WeChat, LINE and WhatsApp.
The number of OTT messages being sent is growing at a rampant pace, recently surpassing the likes of SMS. OTT messaging has increased exponentially since 2011, when Informa and Portio Research both estimated its volume at approximately four billion daily messages. In 2013 alone, Portio says the number of OTT messages has grown to 70.5 billion per day, as compared to 20.9 billion SMS messages. Further proliferated by the unyielding popularity of mobile, OTT messaging showing no signs of stopping.
According to Portio Research’s upcoming report: ‘Mobile Messaging Futures-2014’, to be published in August 2014, there are approximately 6.65 billion active mobile subscriptions today. Portio estimates that at this rate, mobile subscriptions will exceed the world population of 7.22 billion by the end of 2014. Mobile devices have evolved from stationary devices primarily used for voice calling, to modern, hand-held music, gaming, messaging, social networking, and shopping tools that we cannot imagine living without. A study by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers found the average user checks his or her phone nearer to 150 times per day. So it is no wonder that today, more and more companies are shifting to integrate OTT and enterprise SMS messaging into their internal / external communication and marketing strategies.
In today’s communication industry, text messaging is also overpowering email at an incredibly rapid rate. With a 98% open-rate as compared to 12%, text messaging is the preferred method of communications, especially for time-sensitive messages. OTT messaging can provide a low cost supplement to business and SMS communications through platforms designed to enable seamless and virtually instant contact with employees, customers and other business stakeholders.
Bulletin, a leading provider of cloud-based mobile messaging Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), delivers a messaging platform that enables clients to stay in constant contact with customers and each other. An industry leader in the rapidly growing field of wireless messaging, Bulletin provides simple, easy-to-use technology that is both unique and effective, offering both back- and front-end messaging capabilities to major wireless carriers and Fortune 500 companies worldwide.
Bulletin has harnessed the power of OTT messaging and will be making a groundbreaking announcement in the very near future. Follow-up on Twitter and LinkedIn, and stay tuned to learn more about how Bulletin’s cutting edge technology and methods can help further develop and enhance your communications.
To learn more about Bulletin, visit www.bulletin.net.
