As the most romantic holiday of the year is just days away, candy, flowers and a card are no longer the way people are saying I Love You.

AT&T (News - Alert) Inc. has announced that the most popular way sentiments are being expressed to Valentines is via text message.

In fact, according to AT&T's data, Valentines Day is the most popular holiday to send text messages.

"Today's etiquette allows for serious or meaningful messages, like those sent on holidays, to be sent via text messages," said Mark Collins (News - Alert), vice president of Data Marketing for AT&T's wireless unit in a statement to the press.

 

"These data points are additional evidence of how influential mobile phones have been, and continue to be, in shaping cultural norms."

 

Also popular among daily text users is shorthand. Lingo accommodating to Valentine's Day messages for loved ones include '2G2BT' (too good to be true), 'FTBOMH' (from the bottom of my heart), 'ILU' (I love you), and 'KOTC' (Kiss on the cheek), among a list of other well known phrases to send to Valentines.

 

AT&T cited Valentine's Day as the top holiday for sending text messages as in 2007, the company recorded a 33 percent spike in text messaging traffic on Valentine's Day, which beat out Thanksgiving Day with 21 percent, Christmas with 30 percent and New Year's with 26 percent-- move over candy hearts!