Much has been written about whether "over-the-top" services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, and iMessage represent a threat to mobile network operators, potentially relegating their role to that of a dumb pipe. 

The growing popularity of “over-the-top” (OTT) services such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger that compete directly with mobile operators' traditional messaging services has resulted in much speculation about the future of SMS.

Today’s mobile phone users have wholeheartedly embraces messaging technology as a way to stay connected with family members, friends, and colleagues.

As 4G networks come on line, wireless carriers will face interoperability and support issues with mobile messaging. Interop Technologies and Sybase are taking steps to ensure that mobile operators will be able to handle the inevitable SMS issues that arise with the proliferation of 4G networks.