Seven years after the launch of basic text messaging, Verizon Wireless customers sent and received more than 10 billion messages in a single month – June 2007.
Eight short months later, the number of text messages on the Verizon Wireless network in a month doubled to nearly 20 billion.
“The volume of text messages being sent and received by Verizon Wireless customers is growing exponentially,” said Mike Lanman, chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless. “Whether it’s sports scores, news updates, the latest weather forecast, or the ‘joke of the day’, text messages are a tremendous way for anyone to stay on top of what’s happening in the world.
“Not to mention all of the parents – and grandparents – keeping up with their kids, or kids texting each other throughout the day, text messaging is becoming an increasingly important way to communicate for people of all ages,” Lanman added.
Benefits of Text Messaging
As texting grows into a more mainstream communications channel, opportunities grow for new and innovative messaging programs – some involving short codes – that allow citizens to participate in activities of their choice.
Hundreds of contests, promotions and other “opt-in” campaigns have been launched in the past few years, giving marketers and advocates other ways to reach consumers with unique offers or information. Since 2005, wireless service providers have offered Wireless AMBER Alerts, allowing consumers to “opt-in” to receive a text message when an AMBER Alert about a missing or abducted child is issued in their area.
Using text messaging to fundraise for charity is another of those opportunities. Verizon Wireless believes it’s time to create a set of best practices around mobile giving, so Americans who contribute are protected and there is a solid framework in place for these campaigns.
Stopping Unwanted Text Messages and Wireless Spam
As the use and popularity of text messaging has increased, Verizon Wireless has been increasingly vigilant in its efforts to thwart wireless spam. Network filters prevent as many as 200 million spam messages per month from reaching customers’ handsets. When spam messages do get through, the company investigates outbreaks and in some cases, brings lawsuits against the spammers.
Verizon Wireless offers numerous ways for customers to block text messages – everything from stopping messages that originate on the Internet or e-mail (where most spam is generated) from being delivered, to blocking short code-based text message campaigns that involve premium charges, to completely turning off messaging to and from a handset.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
