Optus Mobile is predicting its customers will send over 40 million SMS or text messages over Christmas.

Paul Kitchin, Director Marketing for Optus Mobile, said SMS continues to be a popular way for people to send season's greetings.

"Last year, our customers sent over 20 million SMS between Christmas Eve and New Years Day - we expect that number to more than double for the same period this year to over 40 million SMS.

"Our customers currently send over 25 million SMS messages a week from their mobiles - that's well over 100 million SMS a month."

Mr Kitchin said SMS is popular because it is a quick, inexpensive and easy way to make contact.

"Our customers also like to use SMS to send messages overseas. It's inexpensive at just 25 cents per message and you don't have to worry about getting the time zone right."

According to Mr Kitchin, the festive season also brings out the mobile funsters who are busy downloading the latest Christmas ringtones and picture messages.

"Last year our number one Christmas ringtone was 'Jingle Bell Rock' and the top picture message was a graphic of two elves with sunglasses. This year we have even more ringtones and picture messages available including Christmas greetings in 13 different languages.

"MMS (Multimedia Message Service) is also set to make some inroads this year as customers use their new camera phones to capture and share those special moments," Mr Kitchin said.

Optus has also added MMS Mobile greeting cards to its website allowing MMS users to send full colour animated images direct to MMS phones on either Optus' or Vodafone's network.

To encourage people to try SMS, Optus is offering new mobile customers on prepaid or consumer rate plans a special summer offer of half-price SMS until the end of February 2003.

An SMS message costs 25 cents to send. An MMS message costs 75 cents to send. Ringtones, logos, picture messages and MMS Mobile cards cost $2.95 each to download from the Optus website.

For more information:
Louise Ingram
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: 02 9342 5042

Samples of SMS picture messages available in 13 different languages