The number of text messages sent during the second quarter jumped 20 percent to 52 billion messages, compared to the previous quarter, according to VeriSign (NSDQ: VRSN), which compiles statistics based on the messaging traffic it sees from its media division. Although the figures are skewed because they come from one vendor, a number of impressive records were hit, including a single-day record of 648 million texts and a one-hour record of 42 million messages. However, some of the more interesting information was found at the bottom of the press release. VeriSign also tracks news alerts, ring tones and promotional video clips that were sent by text message, which the company calls “application to person messages.” It found that people increasingly using text messages to receive content. The number of application messages rose almost 34 percent to 249 million messages in the second quarter from 186 million in the prior period. VeriSign attributed the rise to mobile banking services. Release.