SMS is instantaneous. Twitter APIs mean that @ and DM replies, even if automated, can take :90 seconds to send. “Threaded conversation” on Twitter (except on Windows Mobile apps) is terrible; where SMS can provide good back/forth.

That said, we also see how they work TOGETHER almost best. DM messages from Twitter to a User who has enabled DM to route to their SMS (integral to Twitter). Getting a Twitter DM message routed to SMS has some good legs to it.

But, it’s not “paid,” which was your question to begin with. The reality is “free” distribution solutions are going to replace anything paid. The payment will only be in the creative and app hosting.

SMS will remain a viable free platform for quite some time; though chat apps (google/talk) will make a major dent in traditional SMS.

My .02 cents.
Best
Eric

Mobile marketing using SMS or Text messages is thriving and will continue to do so thanks to its simplicity, affordability, timeliness and adoption – practically everyone has SMS access with a mobile phone wherever they are.

Mobile communications also add that extra personal and proximity relevance when on the move, which cannot be matched by any other media channel.

There is definitely a place for FREE SMS marketing along side traditional paid SMS promotions and I believe both will continue to grow.

However, I believe only one can be truely relied upon for fully supported, sustainable, ad-free and reliable service from a business marketer perspective.

Looking at the bigger picture, there are some other things to keep in mind in the ‘FREE’ versus ‘Paid For’ debate.

Despite being FREE and having cool features, the reality is not everyone is or will use services from Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkeIn, etc or have the latest and greatest free iPhone application. Due to the rich media content, far fewer people are likely to access these services when away from their desktop computer.

Users of FREE social media services account for only a fraction of the people around the world who are already able to send and receive SMS messages from a standard featured mobile phone – anywhere they can get mobile access.

Last year an estimated 2.3 Trillion SMS messages were sent, which grew from 1.9 Trillion SMS messages the year before. SMS and Email are the global communications standards for messaging, with Telco volumes and revenues from SMS growing each year.

FREE messaging, social media or microblogging services tend to have a lower quality of service. For example, how often have you experienced slow response rates from a FREE service, lack of support or intermittent unreliable service like the “Fail Whale” on Twitter?

These FREE services are typically more cluttered with advertising to support their ‘FREE’ service. This can also detract from or dilute your marketing message and your brand when marketing via those services.

By their nature, FREE services tend to attract users with a smaller budget … like the FREE textplus service you refer to – where the majority of their users are teens or students. How many of those users have an authentic profile for accurate targeted marketing purposes anyway?

Despite this, I believe FREE and paid SMS marketing services will continue to flourish and have a very bright future.

When interactive mobile marketing is used in combination with campaigns across other media channels (such as social and online media), it provides more personal and relevant ways to deliver the right message at the right time to the right people via the right channel – right into the hands of your target market.