Unless you've been residing in a world of your own, without a mobile, you would most probably have heard the term SMS. It is also called "texting." It has become the rage of the 21st century as mobile users are constantly trying to find novel functions their mobile devices. Today we live in a fast-moving world and more and more people are turning to texting as a means of relating to each other. The dating world is no exception. With the onslaught of online daters, and long distance romances on the rise, SMS or texting has just become a very convenient way of life. Couple texting and SMS with emails and IM, you don't even need to actually speak to anyone anymore to carry on a relationship. Enter the magical world of mobile devices - with all the familiar brand names: Samsung, Nokia, LG, Sony-Ericsson and what have you.
SMS and texting are known for their brevity. Something like "Mt me @ 9PM, R spt" or "IM @11??" can change your entire to-do list in a few short seconds. There is no need for 2 calls, long drawn out emails, or any confusion about detailed exchanges. In fact, texting is a 13 for people with 7 lives that literally need to book time with each other.
How widespread is SMS for dating? Mobile phone companies are making it more available to their consumers, because each SMS sent literally means cash in their pocket. Recently, Cingular Wireless conducted a survey to find out if mobile phones and SMS had in fact influenced their customer's romantic relationships. Their findings proved that SMS is in fact the new dating tool of the 21st century:
* 38% of users said one of their dates had responded to text messages sent during a dinner conversation. Of those 38%, 31% of them admitted to doing the same.
* 10% of users have texted someone out of their lives. This makes the Sex and the City "Post-It Note" episode look aggreable.
* 17% have texted to get out of an uncomfortable date.
* 12% used texting news reports as a conversation starter with their date or partner.
* 8% said a relationship has ended over offensive texting behavior.
* 28% would rather text their partner than get stuck in a long conversation.
* 5% have used their mobile phone to text another love interest while on a date with someone else. 7% claimed they suspected their date of doing the same thing.
* 6% say they judge others by how they text
* 59% of regular daters use texting to communicate with their dates, and 30% of married couples do the same thing with their spouses.
It just goes to show, that SMS and texting are not only more widespread in the dating world, it seems it is almost a requirement today. Go ahead, reach out and text someone. That is the magic that mobile telephony is all about.
