Happy Birthday, SMS! 12/03/2011 12:54 PM
When Neil Papworth used a computer keyboard to type the message “Merry Christmas” and then sent it from a computer to his boss’s Orbitel 901 handset, texting as we know it was born.
That was 19 years ago.
Since then, texting has grown in leaps and bounds: 1.56 trillion texts were sent in the United States alone in 2010. More than 52,000 texts are sent every second. What started out as plain, text-only messages has evolved into a way to quickly and easily share information, pictures, and more.
Now, while people still use the service to send holiday well wishes, they also use it for so much more.
Individuals use texting to buy goods, earn discounts, and cast votes. They can get alerted when their bank funds are running low, enter to win a Sweepstakes, or donate money after a natural disaster – all from their mobile phone.
2WayTxt lets businesses tap into this powerful communication tool, and gives them a way to reach out to their customers in a medium they know and love.
Contact us today, and start texting tomorrow!
And the Winner is… 02/25/2009 12:02 PM
The second most watched television event of the season aired on Sunday night and among the biggest snubs at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony was mobile among the national commercials.
Similar to the Superbowl, the Academy Awards marked another example of missed opportunities for advertisers to interact with viewers during live television. Movie trailers and broadcast tune-in commercials could have ended with a text-in for a reminder before the movie and show premieres, travel commercials could have included text-in for discounts or prizes and the restaurant advertisements could have easily included a text-in for specials and locations. With the money spent for advertisements during this massive reach event it is difficult to imagine the advertiser is satisfied with only speaking to an audience and not allowing for response. If the relationship begins with the initial contact, it needs to continue with a venue for dialogue.
Mobile was present, however, as ABC offered mobile alerts to provide behind the scenes information. The next big event is the finale of American Idol in May, and you can bet that text messaging will have a much bigger part to play.
Is President Obama an SMS dream? 01/24/2009 01:27 PM
We haven’t heard yet from the Guinness Book of World Records but according to several reporters, including Colin Gibbs for RCR Wireless News, President Obama’s inauguration was likely to break text-messaging records.
The whole multiple-day celebration breathed a rockstar element that no American has witnessed for a US president. Everyone, including bona fide rock stars like Bono, Jay-Z, Sheryl Crow, and Bruce Springsteen, among a sea of others, flocked to Washington to take part in the historic event. With DC officially infiltrated and the attendee estimation around two million, it was difficult to get past security or onto any line that had a Metro stop close to the Mall, let alone see him swearing in.
VeriSign Inc, an Internet infrastructure service provider, said they expected 1.4 billion messages nationwide on inauguration day. You know when even Anderson Cooper can’t get past the triple line of law enforcement to get to CNN, he’s definitely texting Campbell.
The Post texted attendees with tips on traffic jams, street closures and event times while the Presidential Inaugural Committee offered a texting service to receive weather updates and other pertinent information about the celebration. All wireless carriers were said to have beefed up their networks to handle the influx of texting. While there were some texting concepts planned out (i.e. – the Post and the Inaugural Committee), there should have been more ideas implemented to support this rising popular habit of cell phone users.
President Obama has consistently used SMS to get his information directly to the public and has made known that he will continue using that tactic after he takes the oath. This just proves that the mass public is open to receiving information this way and are slowly jumping on the bandwagon for sending, as well.
Jay Emmet, general manager of OpenMarket Inc, said it well, “Think of SMS as the next generation of the Emergency Broadcasting System,” he said. “Mobile is becoming another necessary channel of any integrated marketing campaign and a critical piece of a holistic communications strategy.”
Whatever the reason people were texting on Inauguration Day – be it their excitement for the new President, trying to find their friend on the Mall, or wanting their T9 to recognize the word, “inauguration” – it’s proof that it won’t be much longer before SMS becomes completely mainstream.
200 Million Reasons to Not Clip Coupons 01/13/2009 12:13 PM
According to Progressive Grocer, there is now reporting that forecasts there will be roughly 200 million cell phone coupon users by 2013. If my dad could only see this headline, he might roll over in his grave. My earliest memory of him was sitting on my parents’ bed helping him clip coupons and tagging along while he pulled out his big coupon folder at the Super Fresh checkout counter.
Someone who passed away in 1992 wasn’t even aware of the cell phone’s existence. Let alone what advances it would bring to the everyday life.
Currently, mobile couponing is much more prevalent in Japan and Korea, but studies show there is a growing number of retail coupons offered through SMS in the US. With cell phone companies offering the campaigns more frequently, retail companies are becoming more comfortable with the concept and more likely to use mobile advertising in the future.
With the existing ability of getting spam, horoscope readings and weather reports through text messages, it was only time before people welcomed common, everyday items like coupons. You always have your cellphone with you so it’s not like you can forget your coupon when you go shopping. My dad would curse when he realized he’d left a $1.00 off coupon at home.
In addition to making my dad happy, more widespread mobile couponing would surely be appreciated by Mother Earth. She sure could use a break- maybe give her a deal on her lifespan?
Txting In The New Year 12/31/2008 12:12 PM
What will you be doing when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s? Drinking Champagne? Throwing Confetti? Perhaps you will be among the increasing trend of people texting friends, family and loved ones with greetings for the new year. If you are not amongst us in practice chances are you are amongst us in the crowd. New Year’s is one of the highest text messaging days of the year. Sprint anticipates a 100 percent lift in text messages over the New Year’s holiday, and the lift is not just from the under 30 crowd. New studies have shown that 20 percent of adults ages 50-64 use text messaging which is up from 13 percent 2 years ago. Among this 20 percent 76 percent say they primarily use text messaging to reach their children. Therefore, don’t be surprised to receive a text from Mom this New Year’s.
New Year’s is the perfect social holiday to review how pervasive text messaging has become in our culture. I challenge you to conduct your own survey or just analyze the crowd you are in during the holiday. See who is reaching for their cellphone to send a text message. Given all of the recent studies about the extensive use of text messaging usage, you may not be surprised by how many people are text messaging….but you may be surprised by who is texting.