The Year of Business Texting

Last year was the year it happened: Texting arrived at work. Up until 2007 texting was something our kids did. Prior to 2008 we texted out of necessity – when it was the only way to communicate with our kids. But in 2008 we discovered that text was a great tool for business.

We started using text for the same reasons our kids love it:

It works on every phone – Virtually everyone has a mobile phone and text works on every single one of them. It doesn’t matter what carrier or what model or what is loaded on the phone. All we need is the mobile number and we know the message will get through to the phone.

It’s “always on” push communication - Like the pagers doctors and IT techs use to wear, text messages are pushed to the mobile phone, no waiting. They require so little bandwidth that even when a signal can’t support a call it can deliver a text message. You send it – they get it instantly. Like magic.

It’s non-interruptive – Unlike a call (or Nextel’s push-to-talk) you can retrieve a text with a glance without interrupting you’re doing. You get the information instantly, and you can choose to reply at your convenience. Or you can text conversationally much like AOL instant messaging.

It’s discreet – You can silence your phone and still quietly send and receive texts. Just like our kids have become masters of texting under their desks during school, we text in meetings, on the bus and while on conference calls.

We are so enamored with text messaging that in 2008 texting surpassed calling. And it wasn’t just the huge volumes of texts sent by teenagers. In Q2 of 2008 every age group under the age of 45 sent more text messages than placed calls. And the break point gets older every year.

The trend is clear in the enclosed chart based on Nielson Data.

Where does it go? What does it mean for companies?

I think mobile phones and text messaging are incredibly useful tools that will ultimately help nearly every worker have more mobility and productivity. I believe we need more text and mobile services for business – but I’m biased.

What do you think is the best role for mobile phones in your industry and at your company?