Thought Press.

I remember way back not too long ago when it was difficult to find someone who used mobile SMS text messaging. I don’t know how many 10 cent texts I sent finding out the recipient was not an SMS subscriber. Things have changed, but now there seems to have been a new wave of multimedia and graphic-rich content. We can access web sites and now video through our mobile devices. This service however can be slow and expensive. Is text-based content going to prevail?

Today most wireless carriers offer text messaging cheaply through a per message fee or with inexpensive monthly plans. Now very few of my friends do not text. Advertisers and content providers are using text message short codes to provide information to the consumer. PayPal recently launched a mobile payment service which allows users to send money via text message and mobile phone. If you see a “Text to Buy” logo on something (in a magazine, on a poster) you can buy it instantly via text message. Mozes now allows anyone to use SMS as a means to provide their content to others.

As for information services, Google SMS is probably the premiere SMS information service. There are other directory services that provide listings, directions, scores, etc, like 411sms. That service can even provide Bible verses on demand. So what about mobile websites and portals provided by wireless carriers? What about mobile video? A recent report put out by Knowledge Networks (via ClickZ) shows that only 50 percent of mobile video subscribers do not access the video content. In May, only 1.4 percent of US wireless users subscribed.

My prediction is that text based content may prevail. Sure, media rich content is great on a laptop, but mobily text content is much quicker. When I wanted World Cup scores I didn’t go on my cell phone’s browser and wait for that to connect and charge me data usage fees. I used Google SMS and got the information in seconds. Many mobile marketers have had success with short codes according to testimonies at the July Mobile Marketing Forum in New York. American Idol’s text voting is the most well known example. It’s an easy way to access information. An example of SMSing’s reach: 93 percent GQ Magazine’s subscribers use their cell phones for texting. Text-based content is expanding rapidly and is much more efficient than the mobile web.

“After landing in New York last week, I grabbed a taxi to my hotel. The driver didn’t know the location of my hotel, so I simply entered the text “Paramount Hotel New York City” to 46645 (GOOGL). Within seconds, the hotel’s address and phone number were returned to me, via text message, compliments of Google. Rather than use mobile Web or standard 411 directory assistance, I had the information I needed, when I needed it — while racing through the streets of New York. If you haven’t already participated in a short-code-based campaign, try GOOGL. It’s easy and addictive!” - Laura Marriott, ClickZ

For my contact info text “andyotto” to 66937!