The Mobile Data Association recently released their latest messaging statistics, compiled from the UK’s mobile network operators. The report included a staggering revelation that typically, 11 million text messages are sent every hour.

In 2009, the average daily amount of text messages was 265 million. Meanwhile, the annual total reached a colossal 96.8 billion, a stone’s throw away from the 100 billion mark. So why is SMS still a favoured method of communication?

Whilst contact via social networking sites is on the rise, it remains understood that these forums rely upon a higher level of commitment which may alienate a proportion of the audience who do not wish to be tied to logging on. In contrast, text messaging allows an instant, personal exchange which has enjoyed continued popularity as a service since its introduction in 1992.

As expected, certain times of the year are noted for an increase in text messaging activity. Most notably, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve see large surges in the amount of texts delivered as people send good wishes to their nearest and dearest.

Picture messaging is also an attractive feature of instant messaging, equipping the user with the ability to send an instant postcard whenever they like, wherever they are.

Charity sponsorship text messaging has also contributed to a sharp rise in figures as the public are invited to donate wherever they are by sending a simple message in a very short amount of time. It is thought that this service has benefited a range of charities that were in need of a new, modern and instant fundraising channel.

One thing is certain, the continued rise in mass mobile messaging is a sure fire sign that it will reign over other methods of instant communication for a while yet.

Just as the technology industry thinks of the world in terms of Mac’s and PC’s, in the next decade, it’s likely the business telecommunications industry will think in terms of Apple vs Android.

Google’s Android incorporated all the features the business mobile customer has come to expect from an open source business mobile; traditional functions such as a camera and touchscreen, combined with the seamless integration of a range of online services such as Facebook, Flickr and Twitter.

And that is what the next decade of business mobiles is all about – an open sourced operating system, where business mobile customers are encouraged to build-on extra features and customise their handset, to reflect their individual needs and personality, both on and offline.

You couldn’t possibly list the top ten phones of the last decade without mentioning Apple’s iPhone. Whilst the handset is far from beyond criticism and its status as a ‘true’ business device or gadget still hanging in the balance, the iPhone has not only revolutionized the business mobile industry, but the way we communicate in general.

Most business mobile phone providers are now making a touchscreen smartphone to rival Apple’s. However, beyond the marketing hype and branding, the iPhone’s main success is the App store.

The Nokia N95 was the device that prompted the statement: ‘Mobile phones have now become multimedia computers’. With the business mobile sector generally saturated with marketing speak and technical jargon, this comment was initially met with trepidation from many within the industry. Then came Nokia N95 . . .

As the flagship model of Nokia’s Nseries range, this handset raised the bar in terms of integrated technology, from its un-rivaled WI-FI access and internet speed, to its five megapixel camera and GPS.

Nokia had finally produced its ‘Multimedia Computer’ and the NG5 was defined as the must-have business mobile for 2007.

Vodafone’s foray into the Japanese mobile phone market, prompted the launch of one of the truly brilliant and technologically advanced, business mobiles of the last decade; the Sharp GX30.

With its QVGA resolution display and ‘flat-panel television-like’ screen, this handset was way ahead of its rivals. However, it wasn’t its cutting edge design that got the business mobile industry talking.

As the first business mobile to have a megapixel cameraphone, the Sharp GX30 was the first business mobile to truly take on the digital camera sector.

This handset redefined what the consumer expected of their business mobile, and all other business mobile providers were obliged to raise their game.

Before the Motorola V3, most business mobile customers had to choose substance over style. However, with its laser-etched keypad, large colour display and market leading functionality, the Motorola V3 was an icon of both design and technology.

It also led the way in defining mobile phones as accessories. While the mobile phone sector had long embraced the concept of mobile phone accessories, from mobile phone casings and mobile phone charms, by releasing the same model of mobile in a variety of different colours, the Motorola V3 cut out the middle man.

Stunning style and substance, the Motorola V3 revolutionised design throughout the business mobile industry and became an icon of our times.

The contemporary business telecommunications consumer demands it all from their business mobile and therefore, business mobile providers are constantly striving to exceed expectations.

Whilst end user demands may have been different in the last decade, business mobile providers still worked hard to ensure they were leading the market, in terms of giving the customer what they wanted. Hence why, after the Nokia 6310i had been in circulation for a while, Nokia continued to move on with a range of consumer-friendly designs, colour displays and the launch of the Series 60 Platform. Yet the customer didn’t care – the business mobile customer still wanted the Nokia 6310i. But why?

Well, the Nokia 6310i was the first business mobile designed to fully address the battery issue. For most business mobile customers out of the office and dependent on their phone, running out of battery was the thing they feared most. Not only was the battery performance of the Nokia 6310i exceptional, it had a functionality which allowed the users to dictate how long they wanted their battery to last for, depending on whether they were a lightweight or heavyweight user.

The amazing staying power of the Nokia 6310i secured its longevity and a place on the Total Telecommunication’s ‘Phone of the Decade’ list.

Before anyone had even heard of a ‘Smart Phone’, the business mobile industry was hooked on PDA’s – or Personal Digital Assistants. This bulky device offered users digital access ‘whenever, wherever’. However, it wasn’t what you call ‘cutting edge’ in terms of design, enter the Orange SPV E100.

The Orange SPV – Sound, Pictures, and Video – offered all the access features of a PDA, but looked just like an ordinary phone. In what would go on to become the Windows Smartphone Edition, the operating system offered users email via Outlook, Microsoft document viewing, a pocket version of Internet Explorer and desktop PC – Synchronization. An ‘office away from the office’ was how Orange positioned the model.

With all the current fuss about Windows Mobile 6.5 and the possible launch of Windows Mobile 7, it’s easy to forget that it all began in 2002 with the launch of this remarkable device.

The contemporary business mobile consumer demands it all; mobile data, email access, cutting edge digital display and advanced video and voice messaging. However, way back in 2001 when the likes of Nokia were still grappling with Bluetooth, Ericsson launched the first truly feature-packed phone, the Ericsson T68 and what an integrated technological delight it was!

From a 256 colour display, GPRS and HSCSD (dial up data) to email, themes and games, the Ericsson T68 gave you unrivalled access to information on the move and completely led the way in terms of mobile data access.

This handset also reassured users that bigger and better mobile phone features did not necessarily mean a diminished battery life. Therefore, the Ericsson T68 encouraged customers to use their mobile in all sections of their life and in doing so, showed them how mobile data could change the way they did business.