Monday, August 1, 2011

SMS Text Messaging ... 21st Century Vice or Virtue?

By Bobby Lee


The Short Message Service (SMS), more commonly referred to as text messaging, is presently the most utilized mobile phone service. Frantic wrist action is loved everywhere, even to the point of etiquette, as customers are seen texting in dining establishments and bars, at weddings and in meetings. The semi-anonymity of 'text' seems key to its popularity, as it provides a comfortable quantity of distance, but allows almost instant communication. The planet of SMS is expanding so rapidly that many people are of the opinion that text will overtake talk because the preferred form of communication. It could be argued that a great percentage of people find "text" simpler and maybe much less embarrassing to enunciate their thoughts. Many intimate confessions have already been conveyed by text, such as the recent escapades of Paris Hilton and Charlotte Church.

Research suggests that introverts favor texting because they have the opportunity to think about what to say, removing the pressure of articulating an instance response. Some people also find text a useful time-saving medium by getting rid of the chance for small-talk. With text, mobile users can get straight to the point, much appreciated by people who simply don't enjoy talking on the telephone.

Text options are limitless. The Live 8 ticket lottery was a very high profile utilization of text. More than 26 million people took part in the text messaging campaign this month to support the work of Live 8. Throughout the concerts, viewers were urged to deliver a text message consisting of their names in order to strengthen the message sent to the world leaders. As text is such a convenient option, many believe this campaign was more successful than a "phone in" campaign would have been. The appeal posed small challenge for the public viewers, who sitting in the comfort and ease of their very own houses, could effortlessly reach for their cell phone and interact with the Live 8 campaign. Furthermore, the lucky concert attendees had been encouraged to send a quick text in between dancing to the live acts. As this needed little or no effort the response rate to the text message appeal was phenomenal.

There are lots of companies keen to exploit entertainment products and packages through mobile phones. The media industry, especially radio and reality Television shows, is continuing to cash in on this popular method of communication by engaging viewers to text in and express their opinion. Hit Television shows, such as Big Brother, Pop Idol and Celebrity Love Island, are inundated with texts in the public wishing to save their favorite person. Some other media companies promote text message as a convenient method to enter competitions. Text messages ease the tedious routine of getting into a competition via a phone call, where engaged lines and automated instructions are inevitable, they are also quicker and less hassle than snail mail and often more cost-effective. Entertainment isn't the only industry to exploit SMS. According to textually.org, the top 10 uses for SMS within the US consist of:

1) Alerting cell technicians to system errors 2) Notifying mobile execs to urgent voice messages 3) Verifying with mobile sales personnel that the faxed order was received 4) Informing travellers of delays and changes 5) Allowing contract employees to receive and accept project offers 6) Always keeping stock traders up to date on urgent stock activity 7) Reminding data services subscribers about day-to-day up-dates 8) Alerting physicians to urgent patient situations 9) Letting mobile sales teams input daily product sales figures into corporate database 10) Sending mobile sales reps reminders of appointments along with other schedule details

A much more advanced form of text messaging, named the XHIBIT, involves witnesses in criminal court cases automatically receiving a text once they are due to appear in court. Many have favoured this easy method, claiming it effectively reduces the time witnesses of crime have to spend waiting around in court. This is also in place to support the police force, who claim that much less time is wasted within the court through this technology. Research shows that XHIBIT text could save 80,000 police days each year.

Moreover, text provides an additional medium for support services. Examples include encouraging messages for those trying to give up smoking and messages of advice for those suffering from anxiety issues. Moreover, many people rely on receiving texts with the latest news, such as stock estimates and weather updates. Using the digital and communications market growing so quickly, research shows that text will continue to see numerous improvements and can as a result grow to be a more basic aspect of our everyday lives.




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