Archive for May, 2011

Companies Embracing Online Text Messages from E-mail

More and more companies are leaving the snail mail and e-mail systems behind and are instead embracing online text messaging delivery services and tools. There are ample computer text messaging tools available across the globe, and a little web-based study helps identify the right SMS tool that makes online text messaging from Outlook SMS easy. The primary aim of leading corporations and retail chains across the globe is to reach more customers and currently, the best way to accomplish that is through the crisp and immediate delivery of text messages, which can be sent from an e-mail based system or directly from a PC with SMS software.

In 2008, then U.S. Senator, Barack Obama embraced the effects of text messaging by sending a message to officially announce his candidacy and choice of running mate. What’s the allure for companies, politicians, and anyone else trying to get their message out? With the number of online text messages from e-mail sent every day, won’t their messages get lost in the noise as marketing e-mails have started to do in overstuffed in boxes across the globe?

Apparently not, and here’s why: text messages have a sense of immediacy that e-mail and voice mail messages do not. Text messaging is very personal, and it’s hip – because it is on a cool mobile device that is found in your pocket, on your belt, in your purse, or right in your hand.

Companies are now offering text-alert services for a growing range of entities, including schools who are warning kids and parents of grade reports, snow days, school closures, campus emergencies and more. Local governments are also embracing online text messages from e-mail and text-alert services for a number of messages, including traffic warnings, flood warnings, tornado warnings, missing child alerts, and more.

The folks working for companies, departments, and agencies and previously received e-mail alerts rarely read them in a timely manner, so the immediacy of the message’s meaning was lost. E-mails are also now passing through ever more vigilant virus and filtering firewall systems, so they often landed immediately in the trash buckets – thus bypassing any useful pair of eyes completely. Placing the message instead directly into a person’s palm  has proven a true winner because it not only has immediate credibility – it also gets read.

A services have, in the past, sent warnings or errors or logs via e-mail, those systems are now being modified to send text messages instead. The ease-of-use for direct communication by sending text online messages from e-mail systems is also growing in popularity because users understand how to use their e-mail system and sending an alert through e-mail to be bounced out to mobile devices is quick and easy to teach.

Among the best features of bulk SMS software is that it allows the selection of contacts to be done automatically from available contact lists. The SMS API facility further helps to send links to those targeted contacts in case the informational content is somewhat lengthy and will require an additional click by the user to read the complete message. Again, what’s perfect about the text message from e-mail feature is that it allows a message to be formulated like a journalist’s article – important information right up front, following details after, and full readable content available only a click away.

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Tasmania Court Implements SMS Reminders

In an attempt to eliminate excuses for people failing to appear in court, the Tasmania court system recently implemented SMS reminders. The list of excuses for missing court appearances, according to the Attorney General, Lara Giddings, commonly include misreading the summons and losing the documents, but the SMS Bail Project should cut down on the number of no-shows.

Ms. Giddings quoted an adage, “justice delayed is justice denied”, when speaking about the new strategy and how it is intended to ease the burden on staff using the SMS API to send Mass SMS reminders. With 82 per cent of Australians over 14 years of age using a mobile device or cell phone, the project should have significant success in keeping those on bail informed of their proper court dates.

The SMS text messaging program includes the ability to respond by text from e-mails that are also sent to people on bail with upcoming court dates on their bail hearings. This new program also ensures that the defendant not only knows their court date and hearing time, it also ensures that the defendant knows what they are to bring with them into court. This reduces the work load for staff members and ensures prompt delivery of the message without involving human effort. SMS messages are sent a few days prior to the required court appearance so the recipient has time to adjust their schedule. The court hopes a significant reduction in the percentage of adjournments due to the defendant failing to appear in court or failing to appear properly prepared for their hearing.

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Real-time Killer Shark Tracking Alerts Lifeguards

An innovative killer shark tracking system, set up on the Western Australian coast near Perth, implements the use of a satellite receiver and electronic tags on Great White sharks to protect swimmers and surfers. More than 70 Great White sharks off the Australian coast have been humanely tagged with electronic transmitters that make their movements easy to track by a receiver. A signal is sent out from the tagged sharks when they are swimming within 1,600 feet of the shoreline.

The signal is picked up by a satellite receiver which uses it to send text messages online to scientists, researchers, and lifeguards as well. Those bulk SMS transmissions are now sent to lifesaving clubs because lifeguards are the most likely to be able to warn those enjoying the beach waters of the impending danger. Three people have been killed in shark attacks in Western Australia in just the past decade with ten additional non fatal attacks. In 2000, a man was attacked by a Great White in waist-deep water off Cottesloe Beach, a popular beach in Perth. He later died from the injuries.

While the primary intent of the tagging and tracking project was to measure movements and migration of the sharks along the Australian coast, scientists soon realized that the data could be used to send text message warnings to swimmers as well. Since the data is intended to improve understanding of shark movements and how they relate to human attacks, the extension of the system to Send SMS to lifeguards was a natural progression. With approximately 20 satellite receivers to be set up on the seabeds near popular beaches, it is hoped that the research project will not only allow scientists to better understand the Great Whites, but also save lives in the process.

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