Most mobile phone users do not realise that they cannot send text messages to people in the US.

Research from AT&T has revealed that two thirds did not know that most US mobile subscribers are unable to receive international SMS messages.

The survey was commissioned for AT&T's extension of its reciprocal texting service to the UK. Subscribers to 71 operators in 25 European countries can now send and receive text messages from AT&T subscribers. The telco believes a majority of the world's subscribers can now text AT&T customers - worldwide it has agreements with 130 operators in 50 countries.

The survey also found 60 per cent of subscribers would be more likely to send text messages to people in the US if they were confident they would receive them.

On New Year's Day 2004 111m text messages were sent in the UK alone - the highest figure for a single day, according to the Mobile Data Association.

The survey, based on 585 respondents, was carried out by KRC Research. ®

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