Text Messaging, Its Benefits and Disadvantages Essay Example

GSM was made by the prime minister of Finland in 1991 and the first handsets approved for to be sold in May 1992.

The SMS idea came up in the process of implementing the GSM project. It was based on simply sending messages via the signaling paths required to organize telephony in the periods when the channels of control were quiet. This was a bright idea since it simply meant there would be no additional cost involved while sending the message. The only limit was that they had to be short; not more than 160 characters of seven-bit. The use of the short message service remained limited for years since nobody paid attention to it at first; it was taken for granted. In the initial days of cellular phones, only adults could afford because they were available on contract and one had to be over 18 years of age to qualify (Trosby et al., 2010).

In 1996, the pay-as-you-go sim cards came about enabling teenagers to acquire mobile phones. The trend turned and has remained in that direction for the entire period of text message existence. The use of the short message service is now the most intensively used communication technology of data in the whole world, for instance more than six trillion text messages were sent in 2010 which was triple to the number sent in 2007. The GSM largely came out due to intergovernmental action of the European nations which created a big industry giving Europe a significant position in mobile telephony. The short message service came up in the late 1980s to function using digital technology called the global system for mobile communications, the

basis of majority of the modern mobile phones (Trosby et al., 2010). The technology was invented by engineers from Norway who wanted a simple system of messaging functional when the mobile phones of the users were switched off or were not within range of signal.

Deciding on the most effective way to pass information is critical to the business to get things done. We are today overwhelmed with messages from the different forms of passing information by use of means such as messaging apps, email, social media, snail mail, telemarketing and many other means. The short message service has uncountable uses with the primary function being to send and receive information. Some of the uses are to pass information to enable friends and co-workers to remain in touch. It can also be used to communicate with medics so as to get assistance at the comfort of one’s office or home (Trosby et al., 2010).

The benefits of use the text messaging are difficulty to ignore with many organizations using that simple way to communicate. The benefits of text messaging are enormous; text messages are read immediately or within a very short time unlike emails. Open text messages are read often within 15 minutes. This makes the use of text messages to be reliable since there is a guarantee that the information send will be read in time. The average rate of opening mails is usually after a long period of time hence emails are more likely to hit the spam folder prior to being seen by the recipient. In addition, sending information text messaging is immediate. It takes an average person approximately 90 seconds to reply to

a text message unlike the 90 minutes taken to reply to an email (Trosby et al., 2010). This means that text messages can be used to send urgent information, for instance alert messages to the police to respond to crimes or casualties in an accident to request for help from agencies offering rescue to victims of accidents.

Furthermore, text messaging is everywhere and personal. Approximately 91% of the Americans have access to their mobile device 24 hours a day with more than 2 out five having slept with their cell phones. Almost all cell phones nowadays are SMS-enabled meaning that everybody with a phone can receive or sent text messages. Information received in the inbox of a phone owner is seen by the owner only thus the confidentiality of the information sent is guaranteed since it is the only the authorized person who will access the text message. A lot of private information is being shared today by the use of text messages (Trosby et al., 2010).

Moreover, text messaging can be done without internet connection. One can send and receive a text message without internet connection as long as there is network connection. Thus the expense and complexity of having to use data bundles is eliminated. Text messaging does not require the use of a smart phone as one does not have to download any file unlike other messaging applications. The use of text messaging also enables organizations to own and keep their audience (Trosby et al., 2010). A text message offers a reliable way to reach every person who opts to get messages regardless of the number of customers in the subscriber list.

Text message use

is more unobtrusive than a cell phone conversation which makes it the ideal way for communicating when one does not want to be overheard. It does not take a lot of time to send a text message like in the case of making a phone call or sending an email. The use of SMS does not require one to be at the computer like in the case of using instant messaging or the e-mail. It is also a very convenient communication way for the hearing impaired or the deaf. The message once send does not go away to the receiver’s phone, it is still stored in the sender’s phone and forwarded to other people. The phone of the receiver does not need to be active or within the range of the sender (Trosby et al., 2010). The text message send when the receiver is inactive is stored in SMSC up to the time when the receiver turns on the device.

On the other hand, text messages have several disadvantages which do not however outweigh the advantages. Texting while driving has led to loss of lives due to the increased distraction leading to occurrence of accidents. The SMS has been used to send sexually explicit content which has led to increased immorality. Text messaging in schools has impacted negatively on the students academics by providing an easier way to exam cheating (Trosby et al., 2010). Texting has also contributed to the spread of social unrest by facilitating gathering of aggressive crowds in large numbers. It has also been used in politics to spread propaganda impacting significantly on the politics of a country.

In conclusion, the use of text

message is with no doubt the most effective means of communication via mobile phone technology. The invention of the technology of sending text messages was a noble discovery which has greatly affected the lives of almost all people. The text message service should however not be used to promote immorality and propaganda. Users of the service should use the service responsibly for constructive benefits.

References

1. Trosby, Finn, Ian Harris, Friedhelm Hillebrand, and Kevin Holley. Short Message Service (sms): The Creation of Personal Global Text Messaging. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K: Wiley, 2010. Print