Text messages are like sweet pecks on the cheek. You can quickly dash one off to avoid a phone call, transfer short data (like a phone number or an email address) or ask a quick question. You can also use them to summon information such as local movie times or the phone number of your local Home Depot while in your car. Text messages can even come in handy during times of crisis. When my friend Ernie was being chased across three states by Katrina - the ONLY way to communicate with him was via text message.
Just about all phones (smart and dumb ones) have the ability to send and receive text messages, aka, SMS (Short Message System). If you find that you can't, call your cellular service provider and make sure it's part of your plan. And before you go crazy check to see how your provider charges you for them.
Generally, to send a text message, look for the Messages or Messaging menu option, then find Text. To make inputting words quick and easy you'll want to understand the "predictive text" or "T9" feature on your particular device. (Visit this great site to read all about it.)
I urge you to dig up and READ THE MANUAL if you can't figure this all out. I mentioned using SMS to GET data. How? Well, The Great Goo of course. Below is a pocket how-to on Google's SMS service. Try it, and let us know how it goes.
A piece of advice: try to use them for good, not evil.
Relationship wars have been declared over misunderstood text messages.
Download google_sms.pdf
4INFO (shortcode 44636) has a similar mobile search text message offering, but provides several additional services that Google does not: sports scores ("lakers" "duke"), fantasy stats ("kobe bryant" "jaromir jagr"), flight times ("swa san jose san diego"), PICK UP LINES ("pickup"), and a beta version of mobile download search. All these services can be accessed via SMS (44636), WAP at http://wap.4INFO.net , or at http://www.4INFO.net.
Why 4INFO instead of Google?
“When asked recently for the address of a trendy downtown Manhattan club called Butter, both 4INFO and Yahoo! located it on the first try. But Google sent back results better suited to baking.”
- Wendy Widman, Forbes.com. 8/3/2005
Posted by: Bob Roth | 02/16/2006 at 01:31 PM