Interesting thread. Up until 5 years ago, I'd neither sent nor received a text (SMS) message. Then my daughter bought her first mobile phone, and well, the rest is fairly predictable. She's now 14, and texting is her normal way of keeping in touch.
Interestingly though, nowadays much of my work is also conducted by text, to some extent at least. Many people (of all ages, but particularly 20s - 40s) seem to prefer it to email; it's just another way of communicating, arranging meetings or fine-tuning details that don't need direct or lengthy discussion. I could probably live without it, but I wouldn't want to.
Mobile Opportunity did a column a while back about US vs Euro phone usage; well worth a read - as if there isn't enough to read already
Good weekend, Pete.