With text messaging nearing it’s 21st birthday, texting has seen more growth than anyone likely realized when the first text was sent back in 1992. The first message was sent via computer by Neil Papworth, to his cell phone yielding associate, Richard Jarvis, attending a holiday party in England and simply read “Merry Christmas.”
In 1992, the rudimentary cell phones were not made with the functionality to type out individual letters of the alphabet. Within the next few years, cell phone design began incorporating this technology and we’ve watched it quickly evolve within the last decade.
Can you imagine a time without texting? This slick and quick communication option has become so prevalent in society that billions of text messages are sent and received each day. With 86% of all adults in the US between the ages of 18 and 64 toting around a cell phone, text messages can be an easy and convenient way to reach one or many.
While we’ve all taken advantage of the texting basics, we’re seeing more and more other text messaging options. Maybe you’ve always sent pictures of your kids in their Christmas sweaters to your grandmother that knitted them, even though she’s across the country. Perhaps you’ve reminded yourself what grocery store items you need on your way home from work. You’ve likely shot a quick message to a lunch date, informing them that you’re stuck in traffic, but now, with more and more text message campaigns, services, and even coupons, your options are limitless.
Need reminders throughout the summer about sunscreen? Want to keep a tab on the number of drinks you’ve had when out with some friends at a local bar? Hoping to keep better track of your doctor and dentists visits? These are just three of thousands of options that text messaging now provides that further streamline our day and continue to make our lives just that much easier.
With statistics of usage fairly consistent between both genders and among all races, text messaging truly appears to bridge the gap and reach one of the widest demographic ranges of any other method of communication. In 2010 text messaging became the most popular form of communication, surpassing email and voice as the most used contact method.
With advanced text messaging technologies being adopted by businesses and organizations you no longer need to answer the phone to get the reminders and notices that used to interrupt your day. Voice calling is decreasing while text messaging is increasing both in casual and in business related ways. With only 43% of smartphone users using their phones in the traditional way by making phone calls, 70% of that same population is using their phone to send and receive an average of 1-10 text messages a day.
Don’t let technology leave you behind. If you haven’t given text messaging a fair chance, do so. It won’t be long before you’ll count yourself as one of those 70%.