Cell Phone Text Messages

Texting. How did we get along without it? SMS, Short Message Service, is the technology behind text messages on cell phones. If the message includes images, sounds, or video it's an MMS, Multimedia Messaging Service.

Did you ever wonder why text messages are all limited to 160 characters? There's a reason. Texting is popular all over the world and in many places is cheaper than a phone call. Texting is popular among young people everywhere.

Over time as phones in the U.S. have grown more sophisticated (while lagging behind Europe & Asia), "real" keyboards have lead to "real" language not text abbreviations (which I hate). I don't want to read "2nite", "gr8", or "idgaf". Just type!

Text messages have been used as an organizing tool. Political flashmobs if you will. Ask Joseph Estrada.

Don't think your wireless carrier is doing you any favors. They make a lot of money on text messages. It's a huge profit center for them. Parents: give serious consideration to a fixed price, all-you-can-eat text plan for your kids.