The Virtues of SMS or Text Messaging

There is probably no mobile phone produced today that is not capable of SMS or text messaging (same thing). Yet few people are taking full advantage of its power. You can use your mobile phone for sending text messages to get instant information, send money, make money, and to save money. SMS has become the rage among American teens as the preferred method of communication. But, it has matured into the most powerful marketing tool ever conceived in Europe and Asia. The full range of SMS applications is only beginning to emerge in the U.S.

Sending a text message is a quick and simple procedure. You can send a message to a mobile phone number, an email address, or a short code. Short codes are usually five or six digit numbers used for mobile marketing convenience so that you don't have to enter a long phone number.

Personal SMS

No wonder the younger generation has already enthusiastically embraced texting as the preferred means of communication over phone calls and email. SMS is fast and efficient. Of course, there's the down side too, and SMS has been used for cheating on tests so that some schools frown on their use. Another negative aspect is the cost of per text messages. Warning: if you plan to text, get an unlimited plan.

To text someone, go to the messaging area of your phone's functions and select SMS or Text Message. Enter the recipient's phone number in the To: field and then type your message in the message field. Select Send, and off it goes.

Text messages are limited to 160 characters maximum. Some phones display character counts. If you go over 160 characters, some phone will split the messages and automatically create sequential messages. Some phones have canned text with phrases you can select such as "email me," "wanna do lunch," "on phone." You can edit the list to create your own phrases. Some phones have a table of emoticons or smiley faces you can select.

With the limitation of 160 characters combined with the cumbersome tasking of inputting text on a phone keypad, text users have come up with a language of their own to save time and strokes. For instance, 2GTBT=too good to be true; 143=I love you; 404=I don't know. Go to www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp for a good reference for text messaging abbreviations. There is also a chart with an array of emoticons on the bottom of the same page.

SMS offers many advantages over phone calls and email. Our minds can more quickly process short text messages than long, convoluted voice communications. Many phones allow you to archive messages in related strings for easy search and retrieval. SMS messages never get cut off because of bad reception. Nor do they get misunderstood because of line noise. SMS messages reach their destination instantly, even when the recipient cannot talk because he is in a meeting or otherwise occupied. You can embed URLs and links in a text message. Web enabled phones can then link to the Web directly from the message. Texting is fun for flirting and for accumulating good karma with thoughtful messages and reminders. Use SMS to find people in noisy, crowded places. Busy people can become even more effective with texting.

Commercial SMS

TV shows such as American Idol have pioneered the use of commercial SMS for voting and polling purposes. While the use of text messaging has been wildly popular and successful for this purpose the problem is that it has only been available to AT&T customers. In order for it to be available across the board to customers of other carriers, a business must have a license from all carriers, which can be prohibitively expense. However, with a company such as Synergetics International/SMS, this is no longer an issue.

SMS marketing is the most powerful form of marketing ever conceived because virtually everyone has a cell phone these days, and no one leaves home without one. This makes it possible to reach a customer anytime anywhere. No other media can do that.

It is important to point out that, unlike email, there is no SPAM involved in SMS. People must text in to request information, and they can opt out at any time.

I will discuss the applications of commercial SMS more fully in a future article.

Observations

With text messaging, you can quickly send/receive information, make reservations, make contributions, send money, receive money, make money, and save money. I will be discussing all of these aspects in future articles. SMS is a powerful way to target consumers on the move because it goes where the customers are. Most consumers find the novelty of SMS fun and engaging. Email has become snail mail compared to the efficiency of SMS. Texting will soon become the preferred marketing method of large and small businesses because the future is in mobile technology. As Bill Gates has predicted, mobile phones are the future, not laptops, and not Pocket PCs. Mobile marketing will expand accordingly.

Article Source: http://publisherscloninghouse.com

About the author: Timothy S. Hillebrand, Ph.D. is a retired archaeologist who has a newfound passion for mobile technology and has published hundreds of articles on the subject. His most recent passion is SMS. To find out more about text messaging for fun and profit, visit his SMS Blog.
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