SMS – the growing new wave of communication

June 17th, 2010 by Sia Frederick | located in SME Trends | trackback

SMS, or simple message service, lives up to its name – it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to communicate. Its efficiency and availability make it one of the most highly used modes of communication worldwide.



The future of SMS is bright, as it seems to only be trending upward, with usage growing exponentially over recent years.  While the simplicity, reliability, and affordability of SMS have made it an attractive option for mobile users, emerging trends will ultimately spur its growth over the next few years.  Businesses are finding an ally in SMS for machine-to-machine applications, allowing data and updates to be sent from locations that are not fixed, such as moving vehicles with GPS systems.



But there’s a downside: just as businesses are capitalizing on the reach afforded by SMS, so are spammers.  Spammers have the capability to reach many more unwilling “customers” than ever before through the use of SMS.  That’s great news for spammers, but an annoyance for the rest of us.  Nevertheless, spamming will play a large role in the growth of SMS.



Flat rate billing plans and personalization services for SMS are also making it a desirable option for communicating in real time.  For a more detailed review of these growth trends, check out this article.

One of the most important advantages of SMS, though, is that it is often available when other voice services are not.  When calling is not an option because of service disruptions, SMS may be the only way to stay in touch.  It is one of the few reliable ways to communicate during emergencies. The power and reach of SMS was demonstrated during the recent devastating earthquakes in Chile and Haiti.  When these catastrophes crippled voice networks in these countries, friends and family members were still able to connect via SMS. This articleoutlines how SMS is able to survive when carrier networks are damaged.

With all of its efficiency, reach, and popularity, SMS  seems like it will be next big vehicle for marketing.  What’s interesting, though, is that SMS marketing really has not yet taken off. There are some companies like Waterfall Mobile that are providing valuable services with SMS ,such as sending out messages to skiers with weather updates.  Airlines are also using SMS to send out updates to customers regarding flight delays and gate changes.  But what is really surprising is that there aren’t more companies using SMS as a way to gain new clients, market their products, and engage their customers. It’s easy to see the value of using this simple, far-reaching mode of communication –  so what are they waiting for?

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