The Apple store wasn't the only retailer that experienced long lines during the iPhone 5 launch last week. In addition to other electronic retailers like Best Buy and department stores like Walmart and Target, carrier retailers also saw an influx of foot traffic. In the United States, AT&T and Verizon are the top two iPhone carriers, and each offers its own unique services with the device.

The carrier war between Verizon and AT&T has raged for years. While some suggest Verizon has better coverage, AT&T has been able to stay in front of its fiercest competitor due to its ability to exclusively carry popular devices. The first RAZR flip phone was only on AT&T, as was the first iPhone. While Verizon has supported Apple's revolutionary device for a couple of years now, it is still playing catchup.

According to a report from Nasdaq, AT&T took an early lead with the iPhone 5, representing 68 percent of preorders. However, some analysts suggest that Verizon will be coming back and things should even out by the time all sales are final. Either way, this poses a challenge for companies that reach out to customers via their mobile devices, because some methods cannot be supported by some carriers.

That is not the case with Swift SMS Gateway. Businesses can reach out to customers on any network via SMS marketing. This broadens a marketer's reach because they don't have to rely on a certain carrier supporting their actions.

As technology advances, competition will be even more intense. Verizon will face off with AT&T, Apple will go against Google, but the one constant will be the ever-present SMS application. Businesses that wish to implement SMS communication into their marketing strategies should contact Swift SMS Gateway to acquire the tools needed for their efforts.