Will SMS Texting be a long term way of communication?

So, the first text message. Sounds like something that would be pretty recent right? Well, actually, the first real SMS text message was sent 25 years ago, which to me as being a millennial is really crazy to actually think about. My entire life the SMS texting "concept" has been in existence. However, is it the healthy route to go in the future? 

25 years ago, Engineer Neil Papworth sent the first ever text message on December 3rd, 1992 where he typed up the message "Merry Christmas" from his computer and sent it to Vadafone director Richard Jarvis. They knew this was the beginning of something new, and the start of a new technology. However, even with the momentum event, it took a while for this concept to be adopted around the world, because in this era most phones didn't have a key pad; only a dial to call other phones. But then, the smart phone was born, and this change everything. 

There is little to almost zero doubt that SMS texting has changed the way communication is now a days. It used to be the idea that texting about something was considered rare, very rude, and overall something you only did when you wanted to tell someone else something really quick, and didn't feel like picking up the phone to call them. Now, it is one of the most popular forms of communication. When was the last time you actually called someone (who isn't your mom or dad) instead of shooting them a text? Most likely a long time ago. 

So the real question now is whether or not SMS texting has a long-term future. The combinations of smartphones in the world right now, and the networks where you are able to chat with others; the mobile internet is sending almost 55 billions messages per day. This includes WhatsApp, Apple iMessages, Facebook Messenger, and Google Hangouts. 

At the end of the day, SMS texting will most likely stick around for a long time as it is the most practical way of communication for anyone who can't get a smartphone or doesn't live in an area with reliable, affordable mobile data. With the amount of messages sent everyday, and how popular it is with all generations, this is a type of communication that will take a very long while to fade out, and I don't think anyone wants that to happen anytime soon. 

Source: The First Text Message was sent 25 Years Ago: 

https://www.engadget.com/2017/12/03/first-text-message-25th-anniversary/