As text messaging turns 20 this year some commentators are predicting other technology is set to take over.
The 160-character messages have altered social interactions for the many of the more than 4 billion people who can can access it on their mobile phones.
Vodafone says New Zealanders send 23 million text messages a day on its network but the growth of texting in this country is slowing.
Technology commentator Peter Griffen says overseas studies show the volume of texts being sent is declining and he believes the same will happen here.
He says people with internet capable smart-phones are instead posting updates on what they are doing to social networks like Twitter.
