Wireless network giant VeriSign’s Messaging and Mobile Media division estimates that more than 1.4 billion wireless text messages will be sent today — a new one-day record.

The occasion, of course, is the inauguration of the first African American U.S. President and industry observers expect all forms of electronic communication to be operating at high loads as Americans indulge their need to share their thoughts on this tumultuous day with others.

The 1.4 billion message estimate not quite doubles the previous record, set on U.S. Election Day, last November, of 803 billion messages in a 24-hour period.

But the Western world’s love affair with wireless — and texting in particular — is expected to receive its ultimate expression this coming Valentine’s Day, when VeriSign researchers are predicting that more than 2.2 billion text messages will be sent.

VeriSign’s official Q4 2008 and Year End 2008 Mobile Messaging Index is due to be released in February. But we probably won’t have to wait til the end of Q3 2009 for the actual results from Inauguration Day and Valentines’. Stay tuned for the inevitable upcoming news releases!