New York (NY) - Some users texting their friends to say "happy new year" did not get their message out until well into 2008, due to an overload of texting on that day.

Millions upon millions of text messages never met their recipients on the last day of 2007 and even more were plagued with considerable delays, according to the Associated Press.  

"Think of any traffic artery during rush hour: You have a large number of people who are trying to access it at the same time," said assistant VP of the wireless trade group CTIA Joe Farren.

Similar problems were also seen in the wake of the September 11 attacks and, even more so, Hurricane Katrina back in 2003.  Wireless service providers are constantly improving their wireless spectrum to create a more robust network.

Rajan Shah, one of the many people who sent out a text message on New Year's Eve, told the AP, "It's definitely a really big question mark.  It really makes you rethink technology and whether we are able to be connected through a global catastrophe."

Cellular Traffic Jam

Jan 04, 2008 14:57     

It was one big cellular traffic jam. Even the Autobahn would slow down if one puts enough cars onto it. :)
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Hurricane Katrina in 2003?

Jan 06, 2008 04:22     

Unless you're talking about a different Hurricane Katrina, it didn't happen in 2003. Hurricane Katrina struck in the fall of 2005.
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