REPORT #1745
"Those more savvy parents are recognizing if I want my kid to respond to me, and respond quickly, they’re going to do so if I text them rather than call them."
Laura Merritt
Verizon Wireless
TEXT ME!
THE TEXT MESSAGE REVOLUTION: The first text message was sent on December 3, 1992 from a computer to a cell phone. The message read only two words -- "Merry Christmas" -- but changed the face of mobile communication forever. Since that simple message, texting has grown into it's own form of communication. The explosion of text message popularity is driven by the demand for mobile data services, such as internet and messaging access, in a wireless, accessible via cell phone. Hundreds of millions of texts are transmitted daily. The Verizon wireless network alone reported carrying 20 billion messages in one month last February. That number doubled a their previous record of 690 million messages in a month set in July of 2007.
CROSSING GENERATIONS: Young people are the leading users of text messaging, but the older crowd is quickly catching on and catching up. Many parents find texting the most effective way to get in touch with their on-the-go teens. A few reasons why parents are turning to texting; first off all it takes tone of voice out of the equation. Parents are also finding texting allows them to enter their child's world and communicate in a way their children are used to and comfortable with. Sending a text message allows parents to draft and edit a message before delivering it -- this can help remove explosive emotions from messages.
The text message has also become a handy tool in business. Texts can be sent discreetly during meetings, and answers can be sent back without ever having to leave the boardroom.
LINGO: Here are some of the most popular text abbreviations:
- 2: to/too - u: you
- 4: for - r: are
- brb: be right back - k: okay
- g2g: got to go - w8: wait
- ttyl: talk to you later - l8: late
- btw: by the way - thx: thanks
- idk: I don't know - omg: oh my god (or gosh)
- lol: laugh out loud - w/e: whatever
SMART WOMAN CONTACT:
Heather Phaeo,
Elias Savion (for Verizon Wireless)
heather.phaeo@elias-savion.com
(412) 642-7700
