C U L8R

I try to be hip and trendy; from reading about me in TWIT, you already know that I have to have the latest gadgets.  But there's one current craze that I just can't get into: texting.  It just takes too darned long.  Just to type in "hello" takes 13 key presses.  If you shorten that to "hi", that knocks it down but you still have to press the keys 5 times.  That's not counting what you have to press to bring up the text message screen and to find the person in your address book.  In less time that it would take me to do all of that plus wait for the message to be sent, received, and replied to, I can call that person and say "I just wanted to say hi and to see what's up."

I did some research and found that on the average day, more than two billion text messages are typed and sent.  That comes to about three quarters of a trillion messages a year.  That would probably equate hundred bizillion key presses.  Sure, the hardcore texters use abbreviations when they can, but it's still too much to deal with.  Telecom firms have realized that texting does in deed take too long, and some of the companies are going to help the texters out with new software to make text messaging easier.  One company has sold software to Nokia and Ericsson  that predicts what you want to type, based on the first key press and based on what you've texted before. This is similar to how Microsoft Word and Excel will recognize words typed in previously in a document, and will enter the words for you.  Researchers estimate this will cut the number of key presses by two-thirds.  Yeah, right. 

Samsung is trying to get rid of key presses altogether.  They have a new phone that converts voice to text.  You record pre-selected words so the phone can recognize your voice.  Then to send a message, you press a key and say the words.  Now, maybe I'm looking at this differently, but wasn't text messaging intended to be used in situations when you couldn't make or take a phone call - like in an important meeting or some other place where you had to turn off the ringer? And now Samsung is going to have to speak the text message? Once again, why not just call the person, since you'll have to be talking any way. 

The article I read also stated that the average Filipino sends 230 text messages a day.  Yes, a day.  If the cell phone users in the Philippines use Verizon Wireless like me, they're in a for a rude awakening when they get their phone bill. Verizon charges 10 cents to send a message, and 1 cent to receive a message.  If you want, you can pay an extra $10 a month for unlimited text message to and from other Verizon customers.  You'll also get 250 text messages to and from non-Verizon customers.  Let's hope the Filipinos are all on Verizon.