An Introduction to Text Messaging

Home
>
Mobile & Cell Phone
>
An Introduction to Text Messaging

An Introduction to Text Messaging

Why Text?

Text messaging is a quick way to stay in touch with people for personal or business purposes. With text messaging, you can chat with a partner by typing on the keyboard and reading what they write to you on the screen. Many text messaging products can work with cell phone text messaging (aka SMS or Short Messaging Service) so you can chat with people who aren't in front of their computer. So, why not just pick up the phone and talk?

It's faster than e-mail and phone calls. And you don't have to pay anything to text. If you need to chat with someone briefly or ask a quick question, it's much less intrusive than calling someone. As with most developing technologies, several types of text messaging are available and each one is incompatible with the others. But don't let that keep you from trying it out. The main text messaging products are ICQ (www.icq.com), MSN Messenger (www.msn.com), AIM (www.aim.com), and Yahoo Messenger (www.yahoo.com).

btw (By the Way...)

Each one is free and simple to download, install, and sign up. You can locate your "buddies" by searching in an online directory by their screen name, e-mail address, name, or telephone number. Once you get the hang of it, text messaging can be extremely addictive. As you continue to use text messaging, you will find yourself learning to abbreviate words and sentences. When you leave an online chat, you might say BRB (Be Right Back), I'm afk (away from the keyboard), or TTYL (Talk to You Later). See glossary below.

Some text messaging products are beginning to offer voice and video chat. The future of digital communication is an integrated product, since voice, video, interactive text messaging, and e-mail are all effective means of communication. In the future, you will be able to switch between text, voice, and video with ease. Until then, we will continue to use different methods for different communication needs :-(

Glossary

:-) Smiley face. Means that someone is happy

;-) Smiley face with wink.

:-( If someone sends you this in an e-mail, they're probably not having a good day

BTW - By the Way

FYI - For Your Information

FWIW - For What It's Worth

IMHO - In My Humble Opinion (or IMO) TIA - Thanks in Advance

WRT - With Respect To

LOL - Laughing Out Loud

ROTFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing

AFK - Away From Keyboard

TTYL - Talk To You Later

CYA - See You Later

About The Author

Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.

In The News:

Ahead of the Bell: Leap Wireless price target cut
Boston.com
NEW YORK (AP) — An analyst lowered his price target for Leap Wireless International Inc. on Friday because of tougher competition for the wireless carrier. Thomas Seltz of Jefferies & Co. said in a client note that the country's biggest cellphone ...

and more »

USA TODAY
Cellphone Tower Stocks Get A Boost From 4G Upgrades
Investor's Business Daily
By REINHARDT KRAUSE, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Cellphone tower stocks should get a boost as more wireless firms follow the lead of AT&T (T) and Verizon Wireless (VZ) in upgrading networks to 4G technology, says Canaccord Genuity analyst Greg Miller in ...
Major wireless carriers 'blacklist' stolen cell phonesThe Daily Pennsylvanian
Wireless carriers seek to 'offload' customersUSA TODAY
Recap: Wireless Operator Subscriber ReportsWireless Week

all 223 news articles »

DeviceMAG
China rules the mobile world with 1 billion users
CNET
The Far East country has officially reached more than 1 billion cell phone users -- crowning it king of the mobile world. by Dara Kerr May 24, 2012 9:33 PM PDT Follow @darakerr China is in the big leagues when it comes to cell phone use.
China Tops Countries in Number of Cell Phone Users With a More Than 1 Billion MarkDeviceMAG

all 9 news articles »

Assurance Wireless Adds Text Messaging to Free and Five-Dollar Cellphone Plans
MarketWatch (press release)
The Free Talk and Text plan will include a free cell phone and 250 free text messages and 250 minutes of free monthly voice service to eligible residents; the $5 Talk and Text Plan also offers a free cell phone plus 500 text messages and 500 voice ...
Assurance Wireless to Provide Cell Phones and Wireless Service to Texas ...Insurance News Net (press release)

all 5 news articles »

Wireless and Mobile News
Assurance More Cheap Plans for Free Cell Phones Low-Income & Unemployed
Wireless and Mobile News
Assurance Wireless is a Lifeline Assistance program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. The Free Talk and Text plan includes a free cell phone and 250 free text messages and 250 minutes of free monthly voice service to eligible residents; ...

and more »

Warrantless Cell Phone Tracking Being Challenged in Courts, Senate [FEATURE]
Drug War Chronicle
Police in many states have switched tactics by obtaining mobile data to zero in on someone's prior movement and by tracking them through their cell phones, usually without a warrant. Whenever a cell phone is used, it "pings" an electronic signal to the ...

and more »

With new cell tower in place, just one dangerous mobile phone 'dead zone ...
SILive.com
By AP SCHROON, NY -- There's only one "dead zone" remaining for cell phone service along a stretch of the interstate highway that cuts through the eastern Adirondacks. Public officials and executives with AT&T Mobile on yesterday unveiled the company's ...
AT&T flips the switch on new North Country cell towerYNN Hudson Valley
With new cell tower in Schroon, Northway's dead zones almost goneGlens Falls Post-Star

all 23 news articles »

IPPmedia
Cellphone firms should show that CSR matters
IPPmedia
The wisdom in this statement ties in beautifully with the word Communication, Science and Technology ministry deputy minister January Makamba had on Wednesday for mobile phone service providers through the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority ...

and more »

Moneycontrol.com
Cellphones service on planes could bring more than greater connectivity
Fox News
In the coming months Lufthansa, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Cathay Pacific, SAS and Gulf Air all plan to launch in-flight mobile services of their own. Increasingly airlines are promising more cell phone coverage at 35000 feet. But as more airlines offer ...
Is the Mile High club about to get a little more interesting?Technology Bloom News

all 7 news articles »

Eastern Morning Herald
Is it time to quit your long term cell phone contract?
Fox News
Cell phone customers are fuming and they're refusing to extend their long term service contracts, or at least that's the message based on recent subscriber numbers released by US carriers. Once upon a time when cell phones were simply, well, phones it ...
AT&T customer service and satisfaction risingPhones Review

all 13 news articles »

Google News