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Got the message?

SMS has put a whole new spin on the way communication is perceived, discovers AMRITA NAYAK , after speaking to young Mangaloreans

AT YOUR SERVICE SMS is an easy and cool way to reach anyone, anywhere PHOTO: K. ANANTHAN

Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sang about people talking without speaking and hearing without listening and the rest of it in the Seventies. Wonder what the duo would have to say about the SMS wave that has revolutionised the communications industry.

Short Message Service or SMS is hugely popular with cell phone users for a variety of reasons from low cost to guaranteed confidentiality. Continuing with the "Sound of Silence" motif, people might not take time out to smile at someone they walk past — busy as they are texting or giggling at a joke sent by well meaning friends. While the purist moans the mauling the language has taken, you have the first novel written in SMS and thanks to MMS you also have mini movies!

Hot favourite

"SMS has stirred up a revolution in written communication. You can reach any person anywhere at anytime," says Shaheen, a media professional in Mangalore.

The low cost (networks are bending over backwards with free or super cheap SMS packages) makes messaging a hot favourite with Generation Y with some of the dudes and gals sending up to 100 messages a day — sure makes a case for sore thumbs.

Mayur, who is studying medicine, says: "SMS is one of the fastest means of communication today. It is easy, quick, reliable and inexpensive. I send a message for every one I receive." With all the horror stories of mails not being secure, SMS has the added attraction of being tamper-proof. Arpita, a homemaker, agrees: "With SMS, the interaction is between the sender and receiver. There is no intermediary who could tinker with your message."

And then for all who feel language has shot to hell with messaging, take a deep breath and unwind with the plethora of emoticons from smileys to winks and frowns, you could jazz up your message with these ingenious "faces".

Quick service

Picture this — you are busy cooking up a storm for dinner and at the absolute last minute you realise you are short that absolutely essential kothmiri or karibevu. What do you do but reach for the trusty phone and send a terse message to the better half to do the needful or else...

Just like letters and email, most people are only too happy to receive but the giving part — as in writing, mailing or texting — has the janta drag their feet. Michelle, a beautician, says: "I unwind from my hectic day by reading messages."

While the corporate crowd use SMS as a way of touching base, doctors and educators are not heavy users of messaging services. And though card companies changed the way we perceive festivals and also invented few special days on their own, SMS is a cool way of sending greetings — except that on New Year's all networks are jammed with everyone dashing off messages to the other.

While talking on phone is banned while driving, one should also watch for messaging while crossing the road. Do not be too involved in the smiley or you would not have much to smile about!

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