If you are reading this book you probably already know that short
messaging service (SMS) or text messaging is getting to be a
pretty hot topic these days. Everyone has heard about the SMS
explosion in Europe and Asia—5 billion in March 2000, 9 billion
in September 2000, and over 53 billion in the first 3 months of
2001. Amazing isn’t it? Then again—short messaging started a
long time ago, before digital phones or cellular even! Back when
all they had was an alphabet and two towers—or two hilltops to
be exact.
The Greeks invented the first wireless text messaging
before the birth of electricity. Back around 400 BC the Greeks
developed a way to represent each letter in the Greek alphabet
using a combination of five torches, lit and unlit, to spell out
messages from one hilltop to another.
It wasn’t perfect—bad spelling, slow throughput, “wind
static,” and size were issues. And in the end it was much like
today: They still didn’t have great coverage in the valley and
wearing the equipment on your belt made you look like a geek.
Wireless technology has allowed people all over the world
to maintain business and social connections regardless of location.
This emphasis on personal communications will carry
over into Wireless Internet applications through various forms
of messaging. Messaging applications allow users to send short
pieces of information to others in near real time but allow the
recipient to reply when convenient. Messaging applications
will also follow the evolution from simple text to full multimedia,
and in the process teach consumers a new way of communication.
Messaging applications will be used in ways that
simple voice communications have not been used and such
applications are critical to the success of the Wireless Internet.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet usage comes from
young users. Simple text messaging has been the first real wireless
data success story for European and Asian carriers. Those
of you who think that this was a well-planned and orchestrated
strategy might be interested to know that it didn’t quite roll
out that way. The first SMS was sent from a PC to a GSM
phone back in December 1992. Even though it was available in
the majority of GSM networks and devices soon after, SMS did
not actually take off until almost 1999. The challenges with
simple text messaging were very similar to the challenges
Wireless Internet applications face today.
GSM carriers and device manufacturers have evolved SMS
over the years to overcome challenges in:
• Screen size
• Navigation
• Text input
• Billing
• Interconnection
• Roaming
Although SMS is now a primary source of revenue growth
for many GSM carriers worldwide it is an application still very
much in its infancy. Carriers in the Americas, especially TDMA
and CDMA carriers, have been slow to roll out simple text messaging
services within their own networks. Closed networks,
devices not capable of originating messages, and billing issues
have hindered the critical mass needed for mass adoption, but
progress is being made. Most U.S. carriers have launched simple
text messaging and are working towards promotions to
encourage trial and usage. Interconnection among competing
carrier networks is in discussion, and companies offering data
clearinghouses for SMS have opened for business.
SMS, as a first Wireless Internet application, offers consumers
more than voice can. Concerned carriers are discovering
that SMS doesn’t cannibalize voice usage, despite being an alternative,
but actually supplements and may increase voice traffic.
When compared to voice, text messaging is described as
being less intrusive, more accurate, and more private as well as
being fun, addictive, and lower cost than making a wireless
phone call. Users often send text messages to communicate
things that they would not or could not in a voice call.
The initial demand for Wireless Internet in North America
came from the mobile professional and business user. The lack
of simple text messaging on cellular phones created a market
for simple text messaging devices such as the RIM BlackBerry
device (Figure 4-3) that allows users to send and receive short
email messages. The initial high cost of these devices and services
has resulted in quicker adoption by business enterprise
rather than the consumer youth adoption that is occurring outside
of North America.
Whether we start with young consumers or business professionals,
growth will depend on efforts to further educate the
market about the possibilities of Wireless Internet services,
applications, and content. 142