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Cingular Wireless Cell: Do you SMS or Text?There is probably no Cingular wireless cell 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.SMS or texting involves sending a short text message limited to 160 characters to a cell phone number, email address, or short code. A short code is a five or six digit number used for commercial convenience so that you don't have to remember or to key in a whole long phone number. Personal SMS Texting is the communication method of choice among teens in the U.S., and it has many advantages. It is fast and efficient. Unfortunately, SMS has been used for cheating on tests, and for that reason some schools tend to frown on Cingular wireless cell phones in class. To send a personal SMS, put your phone in message mode, select either SMS or Text Message, enter a cell phone number or email address in the To: field. Then type in your message. Text messages are limited to 160 characters maximum. Some phones display a character count. Some more sophisticated phones offer a popup menu with canned text with phrases such as "On phone," "Call me later," "Want to do lunch?" You can created your own phrases too. Some devices also offer a popup grid full of graphic emoticons, which are fun. The 160 character message limit has inspired users to enlist abbreviations and even new shortcut words that are becoming widely accepted, which is another example of the evolution of language. For example, 2GTBT=too good to be true; 143=I love you; 404=I don't know. Try out the Apple Iphone cell phone. There are many advantages to texting over email and phone calls. The human mind can assimilate the information from text messages much faster than listening to speech and all the social amenities involved. You can archive text messages and search them for relevant information. An SMS message is never cut off by bad reception nor misunderstood because of line noise. Texting reaches recipients instantly, even if when they cannot talk on the phone or get to a computer to do email. You can send links on Web enabled phones with maps. Texting is terrific for noisy environments and for people finding one another in crowded places. Texting is great for casual flirting and for building good karma with thoughtful messages and reminders. Busy people can become more efficient through SMS. Commercial SMS Texting in the United States for commercial purposes has just begun to emerge. Perhaps you have noticed texting first on TV shows such as American Idol. You can text your vote using your cell phone-if you are an AT&T customer. Even though limited to a single carrier, the show receives millions and millions of votes showing that it is a well-received and popular activity. The problem of competing technologies of all the different characters has been overcome and the gap bridged by companies such as Synergetics International SMS (www.synergetics.org/sms) so that it is now possible for businesses large and small to take advantage of this technology for marketing purposes. Imagine the power of SMS for marketing in a world where everyone has a cell phone these days-people just don't leave home without them. You can reach your audience anywhere, anytime. 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 examine the possibilities of commercial SMS in more detail in a future article, so stay tuned. 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. 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. Orange County Small Business Website Design 01:19 - 2007-Oct-9
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