TEXT MESSAGING

Words of Hope

By Pastor Ann Roda

August 2, 2008

Interesting facts about the text messaging phenomenon.

Text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service on the planet, with 72% of all mobile phone users worldwide (foxnews.com).

Up to 140 million Americans are text message users (Mobile Marketing Association).

Text messaging or Short Messaging Service (SMS) was invented during the 1980s as a method of communication for engineers building the mobile network. Since its introduction in 1995 it has taken the world by storm.

In November 2006, New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved the move that allowed students of secondary schools to use mobile phone text language in the end of the year exam papers (www.usatoday.com).

Elliot Nicholls of Dunedin, New Zealand currently holds the World Record for the fastest blindfolded text messaging. A record of a 160 letter text in 45 seconds while blindfolded was set on the 17th of November 2007 (Technology News).

A Malaysian court had ruled that it is legal to divorce through the use of text messaging as long as you are clear and unequivocal. (BBC News)

On average, 4.1 million messages are sent every hour in Britain (www.themda.org)

Gartner, Inc., a telecommunications research company, has forecast that 2.3 trillion messages will be sent across major markets worldwide in 2008 (www.gartner.com).

What message have you received from God today?