A record-breaking 223 million text messages are estimated to have beeped and buzzed their way across Australia as the nation marked the start of 2013 in truly digital style.
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Major telcos reported that their networks held up well under surging demand for text messaging and social media sites during new year celebrations, with just before midnight to 1am on January 1 the peak time for mobile phone use.
"Given the demand for mobile use in Sydney last night, the performance of our mobile network was pleasing," a Telstra spokesman said yesterday.
Telstra was expecting 61 million text messages to be sent across its network over the new year period - a 17 per cent increase on last year.
The precise figures were not immediately finalised, but Telstra confirmed that the level of messaging activity was above that recorded at the same time last year.
Vodafone expected its customers to send up to 90 million messages.
Again the figures weren't immediately finalised, but a Vodafone spokesman said: "From what I have seen our predictions have well and truly been met."
The company said the number of text messages spiked from 5pm on Monday and eight million were sent in the last minutes of 2012.
"Aussies kept up the momentum throughout the early hours - it wasn't until 4am that we saw fewer than one million texts sent in the hour," the Vodafone spokesman added.
Optus estimated that 72 million text messages were sent on its network - an increase of about four million from the previous New Year's Eve.
The telcos all upgraded or boosted their networks in the run-up to December 31 in a bid to keep up with demand at popular holiday and celebration spots.
The surge in text messaging is being driven by a near 100 per cent increase in smartphone ownership during 2012.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority revealed in November that smartphone ownership almost doubled in the 12 months to July 2012, with 49 per cent of Australians now possessing one, up from 25 per cent.
Demand for social media sites and apps was also high over the new year period, as revellers contacted their mates or posted messages of goodwill.
The hashtag #Sydney was trending on Twitter in the run-up to midnight, as was #NYEon9 - a reference to the Nine Network's coverage of the celebrations.
Hundreds of pictures of Sydney's fireworks were posted on the photo-sharing app Instagram.
And Telstra said 600,000 people watched the Sydney celebrations via its YouTube channel. AAP
