|
In this issue...
|
 |
Using Text Messaging
(or...It's OK to be All Thumbs!)
By Jerry Thacker
On several recent occasions, I've seen young people riding bicycles and talking on cell phones. While we might doubt the safety of this practice, it does illustrate the connected nature of our society and how people are using cell phone technology at an earlier and earlier age.
The number of people connected via cell phone is increasing each year. It is not uncommon for young people especially to not even get a landline phone and to rely solely on the cell phone for talking to the world.
A concomitant feature of most cell phones these days is text messaging. Short Messaging Services (SMS) allow for the quick transmission of messages of up to 150 characters in near real time. These short messages can become a running thread of conversation between individuals. Pictures and even short video clips can be sent between cell phones by these skilled neo-techies.
Keeping in touch with clients and volunteers may be as easy as taking the phone out of your pocket and learning how to use the text-messaging feature. Consult the Web site of your phone carrier for more information on how to capitalize on this emerging technology that is quite literally replacing the old-fashioned voice call. You'll find yourself using it to send messages of encouragement, reminders of appointments, questions that need short answers and a hundred other things. (I always text my daughters and wife to let them know I've arrived safely when my plane touches down as I travel on business.)
HERE'S HOW TO TEXT MESSAGE: (from About.com)
- Keep in mind that most phones allow for two kinds of text messages to be sent: SMS, usually sent from a mobile phone to another phone activated on the same network, or e-mail, which can be sent to any Internet e-mail address.
- Go to your phone's "messages" menu.
- Select "New Message," "Send SMS," "Send Text Message," "Send," "New e-mail" or "Send e-mail."
- If your phone has "predictive text input," enter words by typing the corresponding letters on each numeric key. Never mind the non-sense text that appears: the phone should progressively recognize the word that you want to type.
- If your phone does not have predictive text input, type the key corresponding to each letter repeatedly and quickly until the desired letter appears.
- To type a new letter, just type another numeric key. If the next letter that you need is located on the same numeric key, wait a little bit or use your phone's "right" or "down" arrow to move to the next letter.
- To type a space, press "0" or use the "right" or "down" arrow key. On phones with predictive text input, a "suggested" word will appear highlighted. Press "ok" or "yes" to accept it and move to a new word.
- Most phones let you switch from normal to predictive text input using the "option" or "menu" button.
- To type a special character (symbol), try using the "option," "menu," "*" or "#" buttons: the phone should then let you select a symbol. Press "ok" or "yes" when done.
- Once your SMS message is typed, use the "options" or "menu" button. The phone should prompt you to enter a phone number or an e-mail address.
TIPS:
- To save time, try using abbreviations. For instance: "I'm looking for you" can be replaced by "Im lkng 4 u." Other common shortcuts include: "r" for "are" and "ur" for "your."
- To send SMS messages to a phone user not subscribed to your cellular company, use his/her phone's e-mail such as "2125551212@voicestream.com." This may be a Network-dependent feature. Ask your correspondents for their phone's e-mail.
- To easily exchange messages with a regular Internet correspondent, ask him to send SMS to your phone and "reply" to that text message. Your cell phone should handle the correct reply address.
| Jerry Thacker is president of Right Ideas, Inc., and publisher of At the Center. He can be reached at contact@rightideas.us. |
|
