There is one clear winner, and a three-way tie, in the race for text-messaging supremacy.

At 57 percent, El Paso, Texas tops the nation in the percentage of cell phone users punching out text messages through their phones. But Salt Lake City, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Memphis aren't far behind, however, with 55 percent of cell phone users in those markets using the device for text-messaging.

The findings of New York City-based Scarbrough Research come from 220,000 respondents in a national survey measuring cell phone and technology use in ways marketers might find useful.

The firm found strong links between texters and their ages and ethnicities. Among survey respondents, those who text are 49 percent more likely than all cell phone users to be between the ages of 18 and 24. They are also 24 percent more likely to be African-American, and 14 percent more likely to be Hispanic. While 12 percent are more likely to attend a professional sporting event than all cell phone users, they are 57 more likely to attend a hip-hop, rap or rhythm and blues concert.

"Even if you're not a marketer, this gives you a lot of information about your community," said Gary Meo, senior vice president for print and digital media for Scarbrough Research.

Meo said marketers are eager to crack the consumer market created by mobile communications, but only through certain avenues -- and with a certain amount of forewarning. Telemarketing firms faced the revolt of "do-not-call" lists during the 1990s. But 21st century marketers may not go where they're not wanted.

"People tend to think of their personal devices as their own, and not to be invaded," Meo said. "I would not be surprised if there was some sort of backlash against uninvited text message. Having said that, smart marketers are only going to go where they're invited. Those who don't ask first might face a consumer backlash."

Scarbrough's survey also measured other cell phone uses. Las Vegas topped use of cell phones for photography, at 54 percent. Salt Lake City ranked 18th among cell phone users who take photos with their phones, at 49 percent. But only 7 percent of Salt Lake City cell phone users access the Internet through phones, placing them at No. 60.