Half of U.S. users claimed they prefer “over the top” (OTT) messaging services over text messaging, a study by Acision (News - Alert) suggests. “Speed” was viewed as an advantage, but also “rich features,” such as the ability to see when a message is delivered, and reliability.

In the United Kingdom, speed likewise was said to be a top reason users preferred OTT messaging over text messaging. In the U.K. market, cost was also a key value, presumably because fewer U.K. users have unlimited domestic texting plans.

On the other hand, respondents also recognize that text messaging might be more appropriate for work purposes. Instant messaging is generally seen to be at least as appropriate a message service as text messaging when communicating with friends or peers.

However, respondents also seem to acknowledge that text messaging is more appropriate in work situations. About 35 percent of consumers across the United Kingdom and 29 percent in the United States agreed that instant messaging is less appropriate than SMS for communications in work situations.

The study also suggests that offline message delivery and universal reach remain key attributes of text messaging that mobile service providers can exploit with the ‘joyn’ initiative.

About 76 percent of U.S. teenagers, for example, would like a messaging service where they can reach everybody, regardless of the type of messaging app they are using.

Some 61 percent of U.K. teens also would like that universal access feature. Also, 61 percent of U.K. teens polled said they would be interested in a messaging service that would guarantee immediate delivery of all messages, regardless of what messaging application was used to send or receive them.

That points to the value of mobile service providers or app providers offering SMS and MMS interworking for rich messaging services. About 76 percent of smartphone users also use OTT messaging. About 79 percent of smartphone owners also use a mix of messaging applications and services.

A reasonable observer might say such statistics suggest a future coexistence of messaging formats. But what has to concern mobile service providers is a coexistence of the type that characterizes OTT voice and carrier voice, where much of the profit potential and gross revenue shrinks over time.