New data from the Pew Research Center finds nearly three-quarters (73%) of American cell phone owners are texting, and nearly a third (31%) prefer texting to talking. That roughly matches recent data from comScore showing 70% of U.S. mobile subscribers use text message.

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A key to the enduring popularity of text messaging, though, has been its standardization across devices, networks and operating systems.

"Interoperability has a lot to do with it--anyone with a phone can text anyone else without worrying whether or not the person they are trying to reach is on the same service--as does the fact that you can text from pretty much any type of cell phone," noted Aaron Smith, a senior research specialist with Pew's Internet & American Life Project. "After all, fewer than half of cell owners have smartphones, but even people on more basic phones can text-even if they don't have access to some other tools you mentioned."

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