<p>The 1990s era SMS message is on its way out, with free intenet-based messaging services overtaking the service in numbers of messages sent for the first time. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied</p><p>THE DEATH of the SMS message is creeping ever closer, with even more free instant message services launching and internet messages outnumbering SMS messages for the first time in its 20-year history.</p><p>BlackBerry's flagship messaging service, BlackBerry Messenger, will soon become the latest app to let Google and Apple smartphone users send messages over an internet connection and avoid SMS fees charged by telephone carriers.</p><p>The arrival of BlackBerry Messenger could be another nail in the coffin of the once ubiquitous communication channel, as research firm Informa reports instant messages were more popular than SMS messages for the first time last year, and are likely to more than double this year.</p><p><a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/smartphones/internet-messaging-outnumbers-sms-messages-for-the-first-time/story-fn6vihic-1226650844946">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://businesstech.co.za/news/mobile/38102/battle-of-the-messaging-apps/">Battle of the messaging apps</a> (BusinessTech)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dDMyBDhvV3clLXMarDpvXbuCxz-fM&ned=us">2 additional articles.</a></p>