London, Oct 29 : The number of text messages being sent by Britons continues to soar – with an average of 217m messages per day – according to a new report.

The numbers have significantly increased by more than 60 million text messages per day, compared to last year.

The report by Mobile Data Association revealed that Brit mobile phone users have been sending almost 1.5m picture and video-based text messages every day, which has increased by 20 per cent on the same period in 2007.

The Mobile Data Association tracked the volume and type of messages sent between July and September this year.

"The mobile landscape is constantly evolving," the Telegraph quoted Steve Reynolds, chairman of the Mobile Data Association, as saying.

"New mobile phones, with easy-to-use software and creative tariffs from the mobile networks, are encouraging people of all ages to use more of their functionality.

"The mobile phone has evolved far beyond simple voice and text messaging: it sits at the centre of our lives at home and at work," he added.

The report showed that more than 16.9m people in the UK used their phones to get online. (ANI)