I’ve started this blog to share how
to use Texting and Instant Messaging professionally. But I thought we’d start
off with the basics, and learn a bit about both of them first.
What is Texting and
how does it work?
Texting or “Short Message Service
(SMS)” uses a mobile device to send a message of 160 characters or less to
another mobile device. It requires that users pay a fee to a service provider
for the amount of messages they are allowed to send and receive.
Mobile
devices are able to work in many places as they are always communicating with
their cell phone towers. These towers are all over the place in populated areas!
I’ve seen a ton of them for myself, as my dad is a cell site quality tech. Our
family vacations typically consisted of a road trip where we’d drive from one
cell site to the next. The cell phone towers are responsible for the control
channels in which a text message is sent and received. You need reception for
both actions to occur.
If you want a more in depth explanation on how SMS works,
check out this link
What is Instant
Messaging, and how does it work?
Instant
Messaging (IM) allows you to communicate with someone right away, as long as
you are both online. It requires that you have an IM server installed on your
device, and an account with that server. You are then able to sign in, and the
server will tell you if any of your contacts are also logged in. It is less
formal than email as it is a conversational tool.
There
are many different servers which you can use, some popular ones include Google
Talk, Windows Live Messaging, and Yahoo! Messenger. These servers send
connection information to your contacts, and you can then click on their
contact information to start a conversation. A screen will pop up on both
devices, and you are able to message back and forth instantly.
To learn more about instant messaging check out “how stuff
works”
Between the two of these, there really is no saying which is
easier or a better communication tool. It all depends what you’re using it for,
and how many people you need to reach. If all of the people I wanted to talk to
had instant messaging, I would choose that in a heartbeat. I type so much
faster than I can text!
What do you think? Do you have preference to using texting
over instant messages?
Over the next few weeks we’ll explore the pros and cons of
both, as well as the best and worst ways to use them in business.
References:
Guffey, M.E., Loewy, D., Rhodes, K., Rogin, P. (2010/2013) Business Communication Process and Product. United
States of America. Nelson
Cooper, A., & Tyson, J. (n.d.) How instant messaging works. Retrieved from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/e-mail-messaging/instant-messaging2.htm
Hord, J. (n.d.) How
SMS works. Retrieved from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/e-mail-messaging/sms.htm
Martin, T. (2013, September 22) Instant messaging: a better tool for collaboration than email.
Retrieved from http://www.business2community.com/business-innovation/instant-messaging-better-tool-collaboration-email-0622521#!uelLq
No comments:
Post a Comment