Text Messaging

I just got a cell phone yesterday (first one I've ever owned) and was wandering around its features... I was wondering, what's the point of the text messaging function if you can just call someone? Is it just to communicate to pagers? Seems pretty limited to me... Anyone know?

There are plenty of situations where people appreciate you NOT talking very loudly on your cellphone. Text messaging minimizes this problem.

It's good because if you only wan t to tell someone something, without a conversation starting. To keep it short and simple.

If you get a certain amount of text messages per month with your plan, then you might as well use them. They're not too useful unless you're massaging (lol) someone something that you want the reciever to remember. He/she can save the message for later viewing.

Or if your service isn't good enough to send and receive calls! You can still get texts. Yeah!! :cool2:

[quote]You're American aren't you?
Heh, yes, I live in the United States, if that's what you mean (I assume it is.) Hmm. I've been messing around with the text messaging feature after hearing your guys's comments, and you guys have some valid points.

...Though... I was noticing there are different 'modes' of text messaging - on mine, there's T9, Alpha, and Canned Messages... What do those all do?

I used it in class where you can't talk on your cell phone. It is also good at passing information along without a convo. Or you could use it to get direction, instead of writting it down where you could mess up, you can have the person text it to you and you have no problems.;)

Text Messaging has its uses, but the new window of application just gives people more distractions in inappropriate situations. All this portable devices have people screwing around in school or work. People have to know when to put down their cell phones and pay attention to what they're doing.

[url=http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/020530.jpg]For Truth.[/url]

Not to mention, it tends to be cheaper than calls, and you can answer in your own time without wasting someone's credit.

[quote=Fireball]...Though... I was noticing there are different 'modes' of text messaging - on mine, there's T9, Alpha, and Canned Messages... What do those all do?I don't know about yours, but on my mobile it's kind of like an auto complete. Say I was trying to type car, I could just press 2, 2, and then whatever number R is on, as opposed to repeatedly mashing the 2 button down in an attempt to cycle through every letter individually. It'll find any words from its (limited) dictionary which you could potentially have been attempting to type, and you can cycle through them if it's not right first time. Alpha would be doing it manually, and I don't know what the hell canned goods does.

I barely ever actually use my mobile, so I'm not even sure that T9 is actually what it was called. This is just a "to the best of my recollection."

Mobile phones are vile.

I've never been able to understand texting. It took a few years for it to appear in the US, and still everyone in the UK does it more than actually calling people. Yeah, I have my own mobile, but I hate it and I only use it when I'm travelling. I think it's something about the Brits that means that they don't like talking to people face to face as much as they do sending a little bit of data that can simply be ignored or replied to later.

[quote=Wings]You're probably right. Although technically, phoning people isn't 'face to face'.
True, but what with the chronic insecurity most of us seem to possess, it might as well be.

I send important messages!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/SkitzoControl/004.jpg[/IMG]

Hey, let him have his cultural tones!

[quote]you could use it to get direction, instead of writting it down where you could mess up, you can have the person text it to you and you have no problems.
...Wow, I hadn't even thought of that but it's very true. Can't think of the number of times I wish i'd been able to just shove someone's phone number onto their phone because they can't tell the difference between me saying "five" and "six", or the ever-incredulous "what?"..

[quote]I think it's more that a lot of people are one a pay as you go service, and the call rates for that are ludicrous, whereas the texts are not.
...So text messaging costs less? Very cool. Sounds like i'm going to be using this a little more now.

[quote]Yeah it was just a comment on my observation that Americans are really behind on text messaging compared to here and apparently the UK. Why do you think this is?

Because companies elsewhere are more innovative than ameriuca, which tends to just go with what worked in the past.

...More innovative?



...Good point.

So do you guys think 'texting' will be on the rise in the U.S.? I mean... I have yet to recieve a text message on my phone, but I suppose it's reasonable to postulate about it at this point.

In other countries, do you guys find the predictive text things from T9 or similar companies (which?) to be useful?

Internet.

Uh, texting is already kinda popular over here, you know. :/

Serious business?

i like to text!

my last text was "i do not believe you are a real doctor"

[quote]Internet.
I was under the impression the internet was developed nearly simultaneously by several government agencies in the U.S., Russia, and Europe, and that from there it grew into a bigger, wider, more obfuscated thing that it is now...

Not that it was entirely innovated by the U.S.

...Hm. So texting is popular in europe. I guess I'll have to look into this a little further for when I visit... (cultural studies trip for school)

Really? I didn't know that. What does the T stand for? Text? ...Interesting.

Yeah, there's nothin' like tellin somebody "Haha you're still in school!" while you're out and 'bout in a more concealed sense.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v83/SkitzoControl/Text.jpg[/IMG]

[COLOR="DarkOrange"]Location. What address are you at? What's the name of the place you are looking for? I think I'm lost.Tell me how to get to A - I'm driving my car, I'm at point B? [/COLOR]:rolleyes:

Texting can be good when you don't really want to talk to someone, but need something, getting info at work without having to take a break to ring somehwhere, or where you can't make a phonecall, for whatever reason. American kids seem to love to text during class. Personally, I don't know anyone who uses the T9 predictive typing, but many people have the Alpha on their keyboards memorized to the point where they can type without looking at their phones at all (I do this). So, if I need to tell someone something in class, bam, it's done, and no-one can tell.

Also, my phone service offers cheap-*** text rates, and I recieve text for free. I prefer people contact me this way mainly for that reason, and because I'm really bad about returning calls.

There's always a reason why these things have caught on. You may just have to look at it from a different perspective.

edit: Make sure you have texting as part of your plan, or don't use it. They might charge you alot.