Text messaging
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T-Mobile myFaves subs get unlimited SMS for $10
We're fans of cross-carrier calling plans like T-Mobile's myFaves calling feature, but we get even more excited when unlimited text messaging comes along for a bargain price. That's just what T-Mobile is now supplying, as subscribers of myFaves calling plans now have access to unlimited SMS and MMS for $9.99 per month. This is a $5 per month discount off T-Mo's $14.99 price for non-myFaves customers, so this discount is a very nice 33 percent decline. Word is that the promo will be available now until September 12th.[Via Boy Genius Report]
Text-based advertisements favored in UK research study
Let's face it: the prototypical handset user isn't apt to favor advertising much at all, but a recent research study commissioned by mobile media publisher MoMac found that owners seemed to prefer the tried and true text-based flavor when all was said and done. More specifically, 56-percent of the 1,400 surveyed favored text-based ads, while picture / banner ads came in as the second most popular with a thumbs-up given by some 29-percent of respondents. Interestingly, a quarter of the males in the crowd preferred video advertising over all other methods, and the 16-to-24 age group was found to like video ads nearly twice as much as those 55 years or older. So, how's about you, dear readers? Do the less invasive text-based plugs gather your love more often than those oh-so-tempting videos?[Image courtesy of TheRawFeed]
TwoStick system offers quicker on-screen text entry
With web browsers and text messaging becoming a bigger part of the "console experience," some sort of method for quick text input is definitely a must. Sure, you can plug in a USB keyboard or a thumbboard controller attachment to enter text faster, but who wants to keep track of yet another peripheral? All we want is a quick way to enter text using our standard dual-stick controllers.Enter the appropriately named TwoStick text entry system, which speeds up text entry using a 9 x 9 Sudoku-style grid of letters and symbols. The left stick highlights the desired 3 x 3 sub-section while a quick flick of the right stick enters the appropriate letter within the section. This means that every letter is only two flicks of the thumbs away, rather than a potentially slow trek across the entire screen.After roughly 20 practice sessions, users were an average of about two words per minute faster with TwoStick than standard on-screen QWERTY controller input. That might not seem like much, but remember that every second you save sending that Halo 2 match request is another second you could actually be playing Halo 2. Check out a video of the system in action after the break.
AT&T's international texting plan goes live
While we'd recommend just hoping on Skype to chat it up with your overseas pals whenever possible, we understand the occasional jam where only a text message will do. Apparently, AT&T also sees this opportunity, and is looking to make international texting a bit easier on the wallet by introducing the International Long Distance Text Messaging Package we had received wind of last month. The add-on package will run $9.99 per month and provides 100 messages to send out, meaning that if you fully utilize the offering you'll be looking at about $0.10 a pop. Unfortunately, picture and video messaging are still only available as pay-per-use luxuries, but we're sure an all inclusive option will pop up before too terribly long.
Construction of chemical plant halted by 1M text messages
Voting might be something that we take for granted (unless it's the Engadget Awards, song requests, or American Idol) but everyone likes to take a stand for something and have their opinion heard. Residents from Xiamen, a city in the southeastern province of China, protested the building of a new chemical plant by sending over one million text messages to the city government. The chemical plant would produce paraxylene which is used in production of plastics, polyester and film. The Center for Disease Control states that the stuff could be dangerous in long term exposure, even causing death and or affecting the central nervous system. Needless to say, the council decided to halt construction after "careful deliberation." [Via textually.org]
Clear Channel wants you to SMS song requests
Text messaging has been particularly effective in keeping certain audiences engaged recently, with television show voting and information requests being solicited from customers using SMS. Clear Channel wants to join in the fun, as the terrestrial radio company wants listeners to all its stations nationwide to use texting to send in song requests. In addition to requests, listeners can get traffic reports along with other relevant information tidbits. With a failed trial having just been completed with AT&T where a fee was involved, the company will instead be focusing on a free model that relies heavily on text messaging. This new program will start in New York City and will expand to 100 radio stations by the end of 2008. We kinda hope Clear Channel really does not wait over 18 months to make this available to many large markets. Hear us, CC?
Linux-powered SMS FoxBox provides web-based texting management
For the folks out there looking to seriously take advantage of those unlimited text messages, Acme Systems has designed the SMS FoxBox in order to give you "a compact and low cost solution to send and receive SMS messages using a commercial SIM card." The Linux-powered device includes a GSM quad-band modem, a SD / MMC memory card slot to store the messages, and a web-based interface to manage the mayhem. Acme claims that its unit can receive up to 30 incoming texts per minute, and it also touts an SQLite embedded SQL server, expandable set of gateway functions, fully customizable software, and even a pair of USB ports to store excess messages on thumb drives or external HDDs. So if you've been looking for some serious horsepower in the SMS to TCP/IP realm, you can plunk down your €750 ($1,012) and give that HTC keyboard a rest.[Via LinuxDevices]
JetBlue looking to offer text messaging to passengers
Now that Qantas fliers will be able to get their texts on while in midair, that same capability may soon be coming to JetBlue. It seems that cellular voice conversations are out while in flight these days, but with millions using text messaging, who cares -- right? Anyhoo, JetBlue needs a PR shot in the arm after its flight cancellations fiasco a few months ago, and this may be a way to bandage that black eye. Hey, the carrier has some spectrum to use, so why not use it? With the regional U.S. air carrier having been the first U.S. carrier to offer in-flight live television programing, we're hoping that in-flight SMS is not far behind. [Via textually.org]
Filipinos paying taxes by SMS
For us here in the States, April 17 was the deadline for filing those pesky 2006 taxes. There were probably a few million folks scrambling to get their tax filing completed online or with a mad dash to the post office. Why not pay taxes by SMS? After all, text messaging is a bigger industry than Hollywood. Alas, we're not quite there yet, but in the Philippines, the Bureau of Revenue Service is offering a tax filing service that works via text messaging. The SMS tax service, dubbed "PAYBIR," allows Filipino taxpayers with a tab of $281 or less to pay by whipping out their mobile. The service works in concert with Land Bank of the Philippines and Globe Telecom, which uses its G-Cash service to facilitate tax payments for SMS customers.[Via textually.org]
Send a teenager that prom night SMS automatically
When you're partaking in prom night activities, sometimes a rude cellphone call can break the mood. But how about sending friendly reminders to not drink and drive to that promming teen? Not only will you most likely get a teen's attention using a preferred method of communication, but they may actually pay attention to that parental concern over SMS. Everyone wants to emerge from prom night in good order, right? The Century Council is sponsoring a program, now in its second year, for registering a teen's phone online so that they automatically receive a friendly reminder to stay away from the spirits come prom night. The CTIA's on board with the initiative, and so are we; frankly, we'd like to see carriers pick up on this and make the texts free.[Via textually.org, image via cbc.ca]
British bloke marries woman after randomly texting her
We've heard of quite a few oddities taking place across the lake, but this one has to be considered amongst the most outlandish of all. Apparently, a British fellow who couldn't get a random phone number out of his head following a presumably potent dream decided to text the number and inquire if he had met the person the night prior. As these things always do, one thing led to another, and eventually the two ended up meeting, and as fate would have it, they fell head over heels in love. Aside from the sap, the couple actually went so far as to get married and flee to Goa for their honeymoon after "a long courtship." Let us be the first to say "congrats" to Mr. Brown, but you should be aware that the DVR is no longer under your control, and choosing your iPod over the lady could evidently lead to some seriously dirty looks.[Via Fark]
Italy bans cellphones in classrooms
With almost every cellphone these days featuring music ringtones, video cameras and text messaging, school officials in Italy have apparently had enough of all this mobile nonsense. The country has taken the rather drastic (or reasonable, depending on how you look at it) measure of banning schoolchildren from using mobile phones in class. In other words, all those class-disrupting ringtones and incognito cam and video shoots will now banished from all institutes of public education -- and with punishments for breaking the ban including phone confiscation all the way up to bans from taking final exams, the deterrent factor is reasonably high here.
Secure SMS micro-transactions coming to Belgium
We're ready to start buying movie tickets, cab fare and soda pop using text messages 'round here, but we're not the only ones. There are 10 million mobile phone subscribers in Belgium that'll have the power to be buying everything from that same taxi ride to that hot pizza -- and potentially a whole lot more. The country is calling the new SMS commerce service a "world first" in that no other country has a system as unified or broad-based. Plus, although there are SMS commerce solutions in place already in some locales, the solutions aren't necessarily that secure and transaction guarantees aren't very clear, according to Vincent Roland, the chief executive of Belgian firm Banksys. So, come May of this year, Belgian wireless customers on carriers Proximus, Mobistar, and Base will only need an operable handset with service and a bank account to start buying all those daily purchases with a simple SMS. 1 lrg pza, plz.
Cellphone detector discreetly catches school cheaters
If you're in England's public school system, that pervasive and addictive SMSing between you and your buddies, girlfriends or even enemies may get you in trouble even if you are prone to being able and text ever so discreetly. Adroit Global Technology has developed (and is selling) a new device that detects cellphones hidden on kids' clothes, packs or anywhere else on the body so that instructors can rid the classroom environment of those bothersome texting devices. Each of these "cellphone detector" devices costs £150 (about $290) and the company has so far sold them to more than 20 schools in Britain. British school authorities by law can't block cellphone transmissions, but this is totally legal -- and since text cheating and other nefarious uses of SMS can change exam grades, we suspect this is going to be a pretty popular device in the headmaster crowd.[Via textually.org]
States mulling bans on driving while texting
We kind of get a kick out of possible laws that have to spell out common sense to people lacking it, so we chuckled a bit when we saw that legislators in Oregon and Washington want to pass laws against DWT, or "Driving While Texting." To those that just can't enjoy the peaceful gridlock of that daily commute, better not whip out that handset or even the beloved BlackBerry and start sending SMSs, emails, or whatever your own text-based poison may be. Considering how many distractions already plague drivers in modern vehicles, we suggest just a fave DAP with a preset playlist and leave it at that, eh?
Teacher learns a lesson: don't SMS for pot
Note to self: don't ever send an email or text message that you would not want to defend in court. Apparently, that imaginary legal and mental procedure was lost on an Oklahoma resident last year and now a Kentucky middle school teacher has similarly mis-texted. Ann Greenfield, 34, wanted to get her paws on some Mary Jane but sent a text message not to her dealer -- but to a Kentucky state trooper by accident. A mass o' cops was waiting for her when when arrived to meet up with her "dealer." We suspect this middle school teacher will probably set up a phone contact in her cellphone next time to avoid a rather embarrassing mistake -- or maybe she'll ditch the habit entirely.[Via Gearlog]
Verizon Wireless wins suit against SMS spammer
In the fight against text message spam, Verizon Wireless just struck a decent blow to a pretty hardcore SMS spammer. The CDMA carrier won a judgment against Specialized Programming and Marketing LLC (what a cheeky name, eh!) and the company's owner, Charles Henderson. "Specialized Marketing" is nor prohibited from sending unsolicited text messages to Verizon Wireless subscribers in any form after the company apparently sent 100,000 SMS spam messages offering a vacation package. The suit requires the company to also pay Verizon in excess of over $200,000 as damages. We say give that money back to the subscribers who had to put up with the extra-lame spam text messages. Whaddaya say, Verizon?
Woman plummets onto subway tracks while carelessly texting
Granted, texting just might be bigger than Hollywood these days, but bigger than concern for one's own life? Apparently a Kawanishi woman was taking her well-being for granted during her daily route to work, as she collided with a man in a subway station whilst texting away at 8:30 in the morning. Subsequently, she plummeted a few feet down onto the subway tracks, only to be saved by a station worker who fearlessly hopped down to rescue her SMS-focused mind (and body, too) as the oncoming train screeched to a halt just 20 meters before running her over. Thankfully, the dame suffered just minor injuries in the fall, but an estimated 4,500 employees were blaming her for holding up their progress when clocking in late. Notably, there was no word on whether or not the phone was saved, or more importantly, whether or not the presumably urgent SMS ever got sent -- but considering this is the second case in a matter of days in which a human being nearly lost their life to a cellphone, we beg you: text responsibly, dear friends.[Via TokyoMango]
Samsung's 7.2-megapixel VLUU i70 brings HSDPA / texting
Yeah, it'd be nice if every swank HSDPA-equipped cameraphone that you felt comfortable texting on boasted a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom, and a three-inch LCD monitor to hold down the photography end of the spectrum, but unless you happened to throw down for Samsung's own SCH-B600 and get the bulk of those niceties, you're currently out of luck. Enter the VLUU i70, which is designed to presumably tackle the niche market of folks who'd rather communicate via text than spoken word and simply have image quality as a slightly higher priority than cellphone capability. The device sports the aforementioned features and also touts up to ISO 1600, 30fps VGA movie mode, Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR), and face recognition technology. Furthermore, you'll find MP3 / MPEG4 playback support as well as a text viewer, and just in case you didn't take the hint, the onboard HSDPA allows users to beam photos wherever they please (and hastily, too) right after snapping them. Oddly, there's no mention of a memory card format, and not so surprisingly, we're left in the dark regarding price and availability as well, but we don't envision this here runnin' ya cheap whenever it does hit shelves.[Via TrustedReviews]
Double-sided headphones, Popular Mobile software keeps you cool
Sure, there's a bevy of ways to effectively conceal the real you while out and about in public places, but Alice Wang's new lineup of Peer Pressure conquerors let you utilize surrounding technologies to boost your self-esteem (and your image). If you're not already rockin' the iPod suit to work, and don't want your cubicle buddies to overhear faint whispers of "Everybody Hurts" in the background, the two-sided headphones are for you. They play that sad, sad song into your ears, but emit a (presumably positive) song of your choice outwardly, giving everyone around you good vibes while you're down on your luck. Next up, the Popular Mobile software sporadically and continuously sends you fake text messages in order to show off just how popular you are whilst in a group of higher-ups, and while we're not sure if each message come pre-programmed with fortune cookie taglines, it's a surefire way to flaunt your appeal. Additionally, Alice has designed the Fast Typing Keyboard in order to make your office mates think you can crank out 120 words per minute, and the Positive Printer helps printer snoopers discover awfully amazing things about you that the upbeat software spits out. Of course, we're not expecting these admittedly handy creations to make their way into Office Depot anytime soon, but we'd love to be proven wrong.
