Archive for the ‘SMS’ Category
May 16, 2007
Why Text?
Text messaging is a quick way to stay in touch with people for personal or business purposes. With text messaging, you can chat with a partner by typing on the keyboard and reading what they write to you on the screen. Many text messaging products can work with cell phone text messaging (aka SMS or Short Messaging Service) so you can chat with people who aren’t in front of their computer. So, why not just pick up the phone and talk?
It’s faster than e-mail and phone calls. And you don’t have to pay anything to text. If you need to chat with someone briefly or ask a quick question, it’s much less intrusive than calling someone. As with most developing technologies, several types of text messaging are available and each one is incompatible with the others. But don’t let that keep you from trying it out. The main text messaging products are ICQ (www.icq.com), MSN Messenger (www.msn.com), AIM (www.aim.com), and Yahoo Messenger (www.yahoo.com).
btw (By the Way…)
Each one is free and simple to download, install, and sign up. You can locate your “buddies” by searching in an online directory by their screen name, e-mail address, name, or telephone number. Once you get the hang of it, text messaging can be extremely addictive. As you continue to use text messaging, you will find yourself learning to abbreviate words and sentences. When you leave an online chat, you might say BRB (Be Right Back), I’m afk (away from the keyboard), or TTYL (Talk to You Later). See glossary below.
Some text messaging products are beginning to offer voice and video chat. The future of digital communication is an integrated product, since voice, video, interactive text messaging, and e-mail are all effective means of communication. In the future, you will be able to switch between text, voice, and video with ease. Until then, we will continue to use different methods for different communication needs 
Glossary
Smiley face. Means that someone is happy
Smiley face with wink.
If someone sends you this in an e-mail, they’re probably not having a good day
BTW - By the Way
FYI - For Your Information
FWIW - For What It’s Worth
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion (or IMO) TIA - Thanks in Advance
WRT - With Respect To
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
ROTFL - Rolling on the Floor Laughing
AFK - Away From Keyboard
TTYL - Talk To You Later
CYA - See You Later
About The Author
Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.
May 1, 2007
What is SMS?
SMS, also known as short messaging service, is the rage in Europe and parts of Asia. Gradually SMS is gaining momentum in the US as a low cost messaging solution. SMS is defined as text messages, up to 160 characters in length, sent to mobile phones. In recent months SMS has become synonymous with any text message sent to a cell phone.
Benefits to SMS
SMS is a convenient, cost effective alternative to voice messaging. SMS popularity has grown as a result of:
1.) Cost - SMS is less expensive then the airtime used for voice calls or web access.
2.) Non-intrusive - messages are received in a discrete fashion and do not interrupt an individual if they are in the middle of a meeting
3.) Integration Capabilities - many software programs can be set up to send text alerts to mobile phones when urgent conditions exist.
Short Messaging Explained
Short messages can originate from other phones, personal computers or the Internet. Consumers and businesses alike use SMS for remote communication, allowing for staff to be mobile and stay in touch with those who matter.
Who Offers SMS?
Today nearly all the cellular carriers provide some level of SMS or text messaging capabilities. Cost and features vary, with carriers offering a variety of packages to suit individual or business needs. Typically there are three options that carriers provide:
1.) Free of Charge - text messaging is included as part of a select plan.
2.) Per Message Fee - users are charged per message.
3.) Monthly Fee - a set monthly fee includes a specified number of text messages.
How Do You Send SMS Messages?
Messages can be sent a variety of ways, depending on the service provider that you use.
SMS Software
The most popular way to send text messages is using software. When using software there is no cost associated with the sending of messages. Depending on the carrier that you are sending to messages can be sent any number of ways. Different carriers use different standards or protocols, the common protocols supported by most software is: via modem (TAP, UCP), the Internet ((SNPP, WCTP) and via email (SMTP). Software is flexible and often allows for group or scheduled messaging. Another benefit to software is the ability to automate processes, sending SMS alerts when specific conditions exist often without the need for human interaction.
SMS Software - free trials available for download and evaluation http://www.notepage.net
Public SMS Gateway
Public gateways are often referred to as SMSC or SMS centers. The centers typically run a robust software application (like advanced versions of those mentioned above) and subscribe to a large database that allows for the messages to be routed to the appropriate carriers using the appropriate settings. When using an SMSC the sender incurs a per message charge. Cost will vary depending on the SMSC used to send the message but its not uncommon for it to cost .05 per message.
Phone to Phone
Many of the new mobile phones and those on the GSM network allow for messages to be sent from phone to phone. The keypads are rudimentary and not conducive for long messages but are effective when time is an issue and a concise message is needed.
Win for everyone
SMS messaging has been helpful to consumers and carriers, as the cost of sending and delivering SMS messages is relatively low. SMS messages have proven to be a lucrative revenue stream for struggling telecom providers.
The Future of SMS
SMS will continue to grow as part of the telecom industry. As software processes become more complex users will exploit text messaging capabilities in order to allow for additional mobility in the workplace.
About The Author
NotePage, Inc. develops SMS, alphanumeric paging and wireless messaging software solutions. http://www.notepage.net
January 21, 2007
Using the Physical World as a Game Board.
This is not Kinky Day Care! SMS stands for Short Message Service.
If your children carry cell phones, or if you have an extra family phone you can let them borrow for the day. This is a good way to get a break and run the kids all over the neighborhood.
The Treasure Hunt. Come up with a few locations around the house or the yard and create hints to explain each location. It’s better to have three or four hints for each location. I usually put a card with a number on it at each location. This will help you know if they actually made it to the location. You don’t have to use the cards or “PostIt Note” if you don’t want to. Once you’re setup, get the kids ready.
Page them with the first hint. It’s always nice to have your hints as short as possible. You should have at least three hints, from hard to easy. This would also depend on the age groups your working with. Now you get to sit back in the hammock in the backyard while you keep the children busy! It’s a great way to take a break.
You can make up as many location as you want, but sometimes they get a little frustrated after about five or so locations.
Always have a prize of some kind at the end. Maybe a candy bar or a trip to the ice cream store.
When they find the first location. They are to page you and give the number you wrote on the card or PostIt Note. (The numbers shouldn’t be in order, i.e. 1,2,3 etc. You can use anything you want. If your child is OK with text paging, you can have them explain the location in the text page, i.e. “Tree in backyard”). At that time, you page them back with a Congratulations and the next hint. If you have more than one cell phone in the group, you will be able to setup teams. You have to be fair as far as which message you send to each group, (hard, medium, or easy hints). If I have more than one group, I’ll send them in different directions so they can’t cheat off one another. If group number 2 is ahead of group 1, and I give group 2 an easy hint. Be fair, when group 1 gets to that hint; give them the easy hint first. If they still need help, I’ll shoot the others to them also.
I like the easy way to keep kids busy. And it’s even fun for you too. If the children are older, you can have them running all over the neighborhood and you can use up to ten or more locations if you like. If they begin to get tired, you can always skip to the last location where the prize might be. So you might be ready with as many locations as you can think of. You can always use them on the next hunt.
It all depends on who you’re doing this with. Some kids get bored after 5 locations; others are still ready to go after 10 locations. The age groups don’t matter in this situation. Have fun.
Email me with any new or better ideas on “Creating your own breaks”. Thank you.
Robert Lett http://www.robertlett.com
Let me ask you a question: How much is your computer worth when you or your employees are sitting in front of it? Now, how much is that same computer worth when you or your employees aren’t sitting in front of it?
When you’re out of the office and that potiential client calls, do you have to tell them that you will get in touch with them when you return to the office? Is that potiential client calling your competition in the mean time to see if they get a better response? What if you could have all your important files with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Hanging on your belt or sitting in your purse, and it wouldn’t weigh too much more than the cell phone you are currently carrying.
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