Ping is Like a Free SMS Client For iPhone and iPod Touch Users

This Ping app by the guy who made PushGmail is a mix between text messaging and instant messaging. What you need to know is that it's free and it's fast. More »

You Can Now Text Message 911...In Parts of Iowa...With Some Risk

It's a bit surprising that even with the worldwide prevalence of text messaging, the first 911 call center to support SMS just opened yesterday in Iowa. Unfortunately, the system is still fairly imperfect. More »

Senate Pushes Bill to Ban Texting While Driving

Though 14 states have already banned text messaging while driving, the Senate introduced a bill today that would essentially force the remaining states to pass a similar bill—despite there being no good way to enforce such a ban. More »

Congress: Stop Wasting Time Trying for a Verizon iPhone and Actually Help Us Out

The New York Times' David Pogue has a great story condemning Congress for trying to outlaw exclusivity contracts instead of implementing changes in the cellphone industry that would actually benefit consumers. Down with those outlandish, unfair fees! More »

What Method Of 21st Century Communication Do You Prefer?

From time to time I like to revisit the issue of communication because the options are constantly expanding and it is an interesting ongoing sociological experiment. So, the question is simple: which method of communication do you utilize most? More »

Two Men Attempting to Set a Text Messaging Record Get $26K Phone Bill for 217K Texts

Move over teenage girls: two friends from Philadelphia—both men—just received a bill for $26,000 after sending 217,000 texts to each other in the month of March alone. More »

Catholic Bishops Call for Abandonment of Technology During Lent

Some Roman Catholic bishops in Italy have called for Catholics to give up technology, notably text messaging and Twitter, for Lent. Possible sacrifices they also considered include "all fun" and "things people like." More »

London Clinics Begin Sending STD Test Results via Text

The National Health Service in the London Borough of Hounslow, in an effort to coax young people into getting tested, is offering free self-service STD kits, with an added bonus: text message diagnosis!. More »

Girl Refuses to Stop Texting in Class, School Calls Cops, Cops Arrest Girl

In an incident that wasn't at all excessive (nope), a 14-year-old girl in Wisconsin was arrested for refusing to stop sending text messages during class, where she proceeded to hide the phone in her ASS CRACK. More »

Peek Email Device+Lifetime Subscription for $300, Today Only

The proudly specific Peek email/texting device is on sale today for an all-inclusive $300, which covers lifetime service (normally $20 a month) and the handset (normally $100). Not bad for Time's Gadget of the Year. More »

Girl Sent 35K Text Messages in a Month...Twice, But It is Nowhere Near the Record

The story of a 13 year old girl sending 14,000 text messages in a single month got a lot of press, but truth be told, that figure is actually fairly low. More »

TiVo Gets Text Message Scheduling via kwiry

kwiry, the web application which enables commands via text messaging, has now added support for TiVo Scheduling. The service is open to any phone capable of texting and no web connection is needed. More »

Teenager Tallies Up 14,528 Text Messages in a Month

A 13-year-old girl in California racked up 14,528 text messages in just a month, which calculates out to 484 a day and 20 an hour. Dear Lord, it's that damn Cingular commercial come to life. More »

NYT: Text Messages Are an Even Bigger Ripoff Than You Thought

We all know that text messaging is overpriced, but the NYT has pulled back the technological shroud to find out that the prices aren't just bad, they're practically extortionate. More »

Marathon to SMS Those Too Lazy to Run In It

I've come to the conclusion that despite childhood fantasies, I will never be passionate or self-loathing enough to run a marathon. However, I could track a friend via SMS.

Life-Saving Surgery Performed via Text Message Instructions

Using text message instructions from a colleague, a British surgeon in the Congo successfully amputated the gangrenous collarbone and shoulder blade of an unfortunate teenager who had his arms torn off in an accident. More »

Katie Couric Explains How Texting Works in Relationships

Let it be known, Katie Couric is OK with saying you love someone over text message. Just don't dump somebody that way. Text messaging: Adequate for love, not quite seething enough for hate. [via textually]

Google Adding Text Messaging To Gchat in Gmail

Those of you who use Gchat through Gmail can now send text messages to mobile phones. The function is experimental, so you have to go to the Labs tab inside of Gmail's settings (or click on that little green flask icon) to turn it on. Your messages will appear as a 406 number—once you've sent a text through gmail, that'll be your specific number. AIM's had this feature for a while, so it's not surprising that Google would implement it as well. Text your friends! See how it goes! [Webmonkey]

For a Quick Response, Text Message Instead of Voice Mail

This should come as no surprise to anyone using a phone these days, but text messaging someone gets a far quicker response than voice mail. In a study by Sprint, those under the age of 30 are four times more likely to respond within minutes to an SMS than a voicemail, with roughly 91 percent responding within the hour. Adults 30 and older were twice as likely to text a reply within minutes rather than call. More »

Text Messaging Is Saving Kenyan Elephants From Themselves

Elephants are text messaging themselves out of trouble, thanks to an SMS system implemented in a Kenyan nature reserve. The gentle-ish giants are outfitted with SIM cards in their collars, which automatically alert wildlife rangers if they get too close to nearby farms. Rangers can then shoo them away before they do damage to interspecies relations by, say, eating the season's harvest. More »

A Guide to What Her Text Messages REALLY Mean

Women are confusing to me. They mean things they don't say, say things they don't mean and there is a hidden meaning to everything. Or I just don't understand women. I have all heard the stories about what her body language really means...but what about her text messages? Honestly, I have never thought about it before—but the folks at Cellphones.org have. According to their analysis, putting a period after a message means she is demanding or pissed off. Really? If she says "whats up?" that means she is trying to get close to you without being clingy or bitchy. Wait...really? Some of it seems like common sense, but it is an interesting psychological study nonetheless. Take a look at the rest of the list and see if you agree. [Cellphones.org]

Schwarzenegger Terminates Texting While Driving in California

California is joining seven other states and Washington DC by imposing a full-on ban of text messaging while driving. The bill signed by the Governator himself imposes a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenders starting next year. Kind of a slap on the wrist if you ask me—but that is more than 43 other states in this country are doing. [LA Times via CrunchGear]

Death Toll Rises to 26 in LA Train Crash: Engineer May Have Been Text Messaging at the Time

The NTSB is currently investigating whether or not text messaging may have played a part in the tragic head-on Metrolink train collision last Friday in LA that has claimed 26 lives. So far, they have confirmed that the engineer, who was among those killed, failed to stop at the final red signal. However, two teens have come forward saying that they received text messages from him shortly before the incident. Yeah, that sounds creepy—but the teens claim that they befriended the engineer after expressing interest in his work, often contacting him with questions about his job. More »

Moron Lies Down on Moving Motorcycle to Send Text Messages

If laws about driving and using cellphones in American cities are cramping your style, move to scenic India, where anything goes! Watch in horror as this lunatic barrels down the highways of New Delhi sending text messages. Hey, why stop there? Yeah, go on and take that nap. Your fellow motorists will love it and the police...haha, what police? [Geekologie]

FCC Prepping Nationwide Text Message Alert System

According to both CNN and USA Today, the FCC is expected to announce a nationwide system that sends major alerts to cellphones via text message. Rumor has it that these messages will initially be limited to the English language in 90 words or less and would warn users about events like terrorist attacks, major weather situations and Amber alerts. Participation is voluntary on the part of wireless carriers, but it is unlikely that any of the national providers will opt out. [CNN and USA Today via Mobileburn]

CellCoach Trains You To Not Use Cellphones In the Car

Aimed at parents of teenagers who just can't get their offspring to stop using a cellphone in the car, the CellCoach emits a high-pitched beep whenever it detects cellphone traffic. The result? A really annoying noise that reinforces the fact that they shouldn't text or call while driving. It installs "permanently" under the car's dashboard so your kid can't remove it, and should be a much cheaper alternative to actually talking to your kids and teaching them right from wrong. What? They're bastards. Oh and it would be an awesome prank to pull on a buddy. [NewsWireToday via Textually via Shiny Shiny]

More Details on Zune Social Networking Features

This is not text messaging and it's not even on the Zune itself. This is just a document illustrating how the Zune Social networking features will work in the software on your PC. You're sending messages—pointers to songs or albums—with your own notes to your friends, which are shown in the inbox portion of the software. No new features we haven't seen yet, just a doc showing how it'll work. We've sent Haroon to remedial reading comprehension school in the mean time. -J.C. More »

Sprint Raises SMS Rates Again, Claims You Can't Use This to Get Out Of Contracts

It was around this time last year that Sprint raised their SMS rates to $0.15, allowing you to get out of your contract for free, since it constituted a material change. They've gone and raised SMS rates again, from $0.15 to $0.20, but this time they say that it DOESN'T constitute a material change. What the hell? Sprint says SMS isn't covered under your contract, and is an opt-in service. Have they changed their contracts since last year? Or is this just bullshit they're spewing to fool some customers into thinking they can't get out of their contracts free this time? [RCRNews via Boy Genius via Wireless Info]

An 18-year-old in Cincinnati was hit by a train, unaware that it was coming, because he was sending a text message as he walked across the tracks. Despite being thrown 50 feet by the train, Zachariah Smith lived. [The Enquirer via Boing Boing]

Kooky Brit Marries Aussie Woman After Text Encounter

It doesn't get any wackier than this, folks. 24-year old David Brown says he woke up one morning with a random telephone number in his head. So later that day he decides to text this number and randomly finds 22-year-old Michelle Kitson on the other end. More »

Verizon Ups Text Messaging Allowance, Doesn't Charge Extra

I'm usually complaining about Verizon so here's some good news for a change. The company has increased the amount of text messages you can send/receive and isn't charging extra for it. Their $15 plan, which offered 1,000 texts now gives you 1,500, while their $20 plan, which alloted you 2,500, now gives you 5,000. Just be careful who you text. – Louis Ramirez More »

T9 Text Messaging Gets an Upgrade

Oh T9 text messaging, how I love you so. Too bad I will soon have to kick you to the curb for the new and improved XT9 "mobile interface" or text messaging. XT9 is being developed by Tegic communications. The biggest and really only important upgrade is an updated word prediction list and spelling correction. XT9 recognizes common spelling mistakes and will correct it for you. Have no idea what I'm talking about with T9 and such? Ask your kids, they'll know. –Travis Hudson More »

European MARIUS Project to Mass-Deliver Text Messages Via Helicopter

Yes, that headline is right. The European Commission has announced that they will begin testing a system called MARIUS. MARIUS will mass-deliver text messages to an area via helicopters. So even if the cell network is out, everyone with a cellphone will know what to do. Expect the initial tests to be completed by July. –Travis Hudson More »

Thief Returns Cellphone, Purse After Receiving Text Messages from Owner

Pan Aiying, a teacher from China, had her bag stolen recently. Inside the bag was approximately $630, a cellphone and other goods. Instead of doing the norm and contacting police, Aiying decided to start sending text messages to the thief.

I'm Pan Aiying, a teacher from Wutou Middle School. You must be going through a difficult time. If so, I will not blame you.

Keep the 4,900 yuan if you really need it, but please return the other things to me. You are still young. To err is human. Correcting your mistakes is more important than anything.

She gave up hope after all 21 texts, that had similar messages as above, went unanswered. This was until a package was discovered on her doorstep Sunday with an attached note saying: "Dear Pan: I'm Sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me. You are so tolerant even though I stole from you. I'll correct my ways and be an upright person." I guess it is good to see that not all criminals are blood-sucking soulless assholes. Or if they are, it just takes a bit of psychological work to crack them. –Travis Hudson More »

Sexy Finnish Prime Minister Dumps GF via Text Message

Finland, land of Nokia and mobile phones aplenty, seems to have an inappropriate love of text messaging that goes all the way up to the head of the state. Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (shown above totally hitting on German Chancellor Angela Merkel), apparently known as "Finland's Sexiest Man," dumped his girlfriend (that he met on the Internet, no less) via text message. Slighted ex-girlfriend Susan Kuronen says "Matti dumped me in a text message, where he said 'that's it.'" Cold blooded, Matti! More »

Cat Feeding Cellphone

The cute Brit babe Katie from Shiny Shiny tells us about the latest accomplice for pet neglect she found in Korea, an automatic cat feeder that you trigger using a text message from your cellphone. There's a camera mounted on the feeder so you can watch your cat eagerly react to your generous ministrations. More »

Textable iBall, the Big Ball That Displays Text Messages

Spacewriter's Textable iBall is poised to change the way you read text messages, since, apparently, reading text messages on a cellphone is passé. Once you've inserted the proper SIM card, the 11-inch iBall can display text messages, images and animations on its surface in a variety of groovy colors, including green, red, blue, turquoise, mauve, yellow and black. It comes with 64Mb of memory to store plenty of your friends' adorable drunk texts messages. More »

Fired by Text Message: L8R D00D

A 21-year-old sales assistant was officially canned via text message. Katy Tanner was home, sick with a migraine when she received a text message that said "We will not require your services anymore... Thank you for your time with us." This came from her employer, Blue Banana, a body-piercing and jewelry shop over the pond in England. More »