Wednesday February 1, 2012
FYI, it’s SMS
By YONG AH YONG
Texting has become a daily routine in communication.
TEXT messaging is currently the most widely used mobile data service, with about 80% of all cellphone users worldwide being active users of the short message service (SMS).
Text messaging is most often used instead of voice calls in situations where voice communication is inconvenient. Text messaging or texting, meaning the act of cellphone users sending short messages back and forth, has become a daily routine in business and private communication.
Owing to its speed, convenience and mobility, text messaging has long been used by business people and advertisers to send out bulk text messages to clients, consumers, business partners and the public. Text messaging is being fully used as a channel of information, publicity and socio-economic interaction.
The use of text messaging for business purposes has grown significantly. As companies seek competitive advantages, they have no choice but to resort to ICT media like SMS. Some practical uses of text messaging are confirming purchase and delivery, instant exchange of information between a service provider and a client and sending last-minute notices and reminders. Most colleges and universities have also implemented a system of texting students, staff and the general office.
Sample short messages
A variety of short messages appear on our cellphones from time to time. Some intend to persuade us to use a certain service or to remind us of a certain matter, others seek to obtain information from us or serve as acknowledgement of receipt. The more sophisticated phone models can even show us graphic, animated images and video in addition to the messages.
Here are some common short messages received via a mobile phone. Try to figure out what purpose they serve:.
Broadband A/C 103218756. We have received your payment of RM79 with thanks. Payment will be reflected by next bill cycle. TQ
Have more fun connecting with your friends and family with video calls. Only 36sen/min to all networks
Travelling? Protect yourself with ABC Travel Protection Plan for less than RM1/day. SMS TRV to 2000 or log-on to www.abc.com.my/insurance
Fr TowService TQ for using our TS service for veh no XYZ8384. Pls reply TS
If u hv any specific req for May workload or tt pls email by 8pm today. Tq
KE life insur payment is RM83 & personal ac yearly is RM70. Total f Feb RM153. Thx
Meeting at 2-4 at B201B c email
Hv u filled up d form for torch run. If not get from anthony today n submit today. This is compulsory
R u a member of prof body eg melta. R u active in res
Tmr meeting at 2.30pm at utar fas meeting rm
Your T-PIN is 6514. You may use the same T-PIN to access our online customer service at www.abc.com.my.
Pls c email for open day duty info files
Pls dont forget we r hvg potluck lunch f our meeting today
Text lingo
While proper grammar and English usage should always be observed, text lingo can be useful while texting in a hurry.
The following are characters, figures, words and phrases that are most commonly contracted in text messaging.
# = number @ = at n = and ? = what? 2moro = tomorrow 4get = forget attn = attention b4 = before bc = busy btw = by the way btwn = between dnt = do not dsnt = does not fyi = for your information hi = high msg = message pls = please til = until tnx = thanks text = txt thru = through ty = thank you u = you ur = your, you’re w/ = with w/c = which w/o = without y = why
asap = as soon as possible 2day = today 2nite = tonight coz = because c u = see you ppl = people r u ok = are you OK soz = sorry TTYL = talk to you later xlnt = excellent SOL = sooner or later PCM = please call me HAND = have a nice day
Among close friends, it is all right to use our own short forms or abbreviations, as long as all of us know what they mean.
Points to note when texting
Text messages should follow the KISS principle: keep it short and simple. We often receive lengthy messages which are best delivered via e-mail. Short messages are supposed to be sent and read in a hurry, so grammatical rules and proper sentence structure are often not stressed. The important thing is to get the message across, whether in proper or improper sentences.
Although short messages are sometimes unreliable or questionable, keen business competition gives traders and their clients little choice but to make full use of this channel of ICT as a necessary tool of trade.
> Yong Ah Yong is a lecturer at UTAR, Kampar, Perak
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