The Short Message Service (SMS), more
commonly known as text messaging, is currently
the most used mobile phone service. Frantic
wrist action is enjoyed everywhere, even
to the point of etiquette, as consumers
are spotted texting in restaurants and
bars, at weddings and in meetings. The
semi-anonymity of 'text' seems key to
its popularity, as it provides a comfortable
amount of distance, but allows almost
instant communication. The world of SMS
is expanding so rapidly that many people
are of the opinion that text will overtake
talk as the preferred form of communication.
It could be argued that a great percentage
of people find "text" easier and perhaps
less embarrassing to articulate their
thoughts. Many intimate confessions have
been communicated by text, including the
recent escapades of Paris Hilton and Charlotte
Church.
Research suggests that introverts prefer
texting as 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 removing the opportunity for
small-talk. With text, mobile users can
get straight to the point, much appreciated
by people who simply do not enjoy talking
on the phone.
Text opportunities are endless. The Live
8 ticket lottery was a very high profile
use of text. Over 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 send
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 that
this campaign was more successful than
a "phone in" campaign would have been.
The appeal posed little challenge for
the public viewers, who sitting in the
comfort of their own homes, could easily
reach for their mobile phone and interact
with the Live 8 campaign. Furthermore,
the lucky concert attendees were encouraged
to send a quick text in between dancing
to the live acts. As this took very little
effort the response rate to the text appeal
was phenomenal.
There are many companies keen to exploit
entertainment products and packages through
mobile phones. The media industry, particularly
radio and reality TV shows, is continuing
to cash in on this popular method of communication
by engaging viewers to text in and express
their opinion. Hit TV shows, such as Big
Brother, Pop Idol and Celebrity Love Island,
are inundated with texts from the public
wishing to save their favourite person.
Other media companies promote text as
a convenient way to enter competitions.
Text messages ease the tedious routine
of entering a competition via a phone
call, where engaged lines and automated
instructions are inevitable, they are
also faster 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 in the US include:
1) Alerting mobile technicians to system
errors
2) Alerting mobile execs to urgent voice
messages
3) Confirming with mobile sales personnel
that a faxed order was received
4) Informing travellers of delays and
changes
5) Enabling contract workers to receive
and accept project offers
6) Keeping stock traders up to date on
urgent stock activity
7) Reminding data services subscribers
about daily updates
8) Alerting doctors to urgent patient
situations
9) Letting mobile sales teams input daily
sales figures into corporate database
10) Sending mobile sales reps reminders
of appointments and other schedule details
A more advanced form of text messaging,
dubbed the XHIBIT, involves witnesses
in criminal court cases automatically
receiving a text when 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 less time is wasted in
the court through this technology. Research
suggests that XHIBIT text could save 80,000
police days every year.
Additionally, 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
problems. Furthermore, some people rely
on receiving texts with the latest news,
such as stock quotes and weather updates.
With the digital and communications market
expanding so rapidly, research suggests
that text will continue to see many improvements
and will consequently become a more fundamental
part of our everyday lives.
For more information about text opportunities
and the latest developments see:
http://www.sonyericsson.com
http://www.newindpress.com/
http://www.ngfl.gov.uk/news
http://www.textually.org
This article was posted on August
19, 2005
