Click to enlarge

Despite strong challenges from other mobile messaging services–such as mobile e-mail and mobile instant messaging (mobile IM)–Asia can't seem to part with its love of text messaging according to a Portio Research study, via Business Week.

Asia's mobile market is expected to expand by an astounding 1.4 billion, therefore making SMS revenue jump by nearly $7 billion by 2012. Total mobile messages will expand from 967.7 billion in 2006 to a fantastic 2071 billion by 2012.

In contrast, the North American market will prefer mobile instant messaging (MIM) over SMS within the next four years due to the proliferation of smartphones and wireless internet.

Analyst house IDC noted the shift will not overtake Asia, because developing countries like India, China and Thailand are still using basic services, such as voice and SMS.