(Direct Newsline)—Two U.S. firms, Smart SMS Corp. and China Media Group Corp., have announced plans to expand mobile marketing advertising services next year in the U.K. and China.

Los Angeles-based Smart SMS plans to introduce text-messaging advertising services in the U.K. where an estimated 32 billion text messages were sent in 2005. The biggest users of text-messages in the U.K. are 16- to 24-year-olds. An average of 3 million text-messages are sent hourly there.

China Media, based in Cedar Hill, TX, will provide interactive advertising services in China distributed via various types of mobile communications devices. By the end of 2006 there will be more than 440 million users of mobile technology in China, an increase of 12% compared to 2005, according to the Xinhua News Agency. China Media plans to expand its existing offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen to promote further advertising growth.

"We view the convergences of telecom, media and television fast becoming a reality, and we intend to actively develop this business segment in Greater China," said Con Unerkov, chairman of China Media, in a statement.