THE ECONOMIC downturn has prompted a shift in mobile users’ behaviour, with customers using less voice minutes and opting for text messaging instead, mobile network O2 Ireland said yesterday.

The company, which is owned by Telefonica, said the monthly average revenue per user was down from €69.17 to €58.85 for post-pay customers in the final quarter of 2009. Prepay customers also spent less compared to a year ago, with customers paying a monthly average of €26.49 in the quarter, compared to €26.73 in 2008.

Paul Whelan of O2 said trading conditions were challenging, and there were limited signs of any improvement in early 2010.

Some 835 million text messages were sent in the quarter, compared with 738 million in the third quarter of 2009, reflecting a shift towards messaging.