“According to research from Chetan Sharma Consulting, the amount of text messages sent during Q3 2012 showed the first decline ever,” Jake Smith reports for 9to5Mac. “The fall can be attributed to Apple’s iMessages (when it is up), along with other Internet services like Facebook Messaging, Skype, AIM, Google Voice and more that use Wi-Fi.”

“AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said he is losing sleep over services like iMessage cutting into revenue,” Smith reports, “‘You lie awake at night worrying about what is that which will disrupt your business model,’ Stephenson said. ‘Apple iMessage is a classic example. If you’re using iMessage, you’re not using one of our messaging services, right? That’s disruptive to our messaging revenue stream.’”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Dan K." for the heads up.]

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Dear Apple, either make iMessage work every time or just give it up already – September 17, 2012
Why AT&T hates your unlimited data plan and worries about Apple’s iMessage – May 4, 2012
The disruptive power of Apple’s iMessage – March 22, 2012