textually.org

SMS Reminders Help people with Eating Disorders

People with an eating disorder may not want to attend a support group or meet with therapists, but a new report raises the prospect that "remote therapies" via e-mail, text messaging or through Web sites could help them recover. US News reports.

Related:

-- Nagging text messages help you save and stay healthy

-- Text messages may help smokers quit

Posted on November 21, 2009 8:50 AM

A Jewish Mother in Your Cell Phone

A wonderfully written article in Newsweek on how nagging text messages can make you healthier and richer.

... One kind of electronic mass marketing is proving to be surprisingly effective in influencing consumer behavior. It's not the aggressive pitches to persuade people to buy something they didn't know they wanted (Fly to Buffalo in January for $39 round-trip!). Rather, it's affectionate nags and nudges that encourage people to do more of the things they're interested in doing and know they should be doing. Think of it as your Jewish mother, on your mobile.

-- A study by four Ivy League economists has shown that gentle text-based nagging can induce people to save more.

-- Text Messages make a difference to those who have chronic conditions - reminding them to take their medecine.

Related: Just a few of the hundreds of SMS health reminders

-- Text Message Reminders help Teen Transplant Patients

-- Texts tackle HIV in South Africa

-- FrontLineSMS Medic: Text Messages Save Lives

-- Study Suggests Text Messages Can Increase Savings

-- Text messages may help smokers quit

Posted on November 11, 2009 6:01 PM

Study Suggests Text Messages Can Increase Savings

Quite an attention grabbing headline from the WSJ, claiming text messages are good for savings.

A new study by a group of economists looking at why people save money found that simply sending out cellphone reminders increased savings balances by 6%.

The study challenges the idea that people simply don't have enough self-control to save. Instead, the problem may be they just aren't paying attention, said Dartmouth University economics professor Jonathan Zinman, one of the study's four authors. "Savings isn't at the top of their mind," said Zinman. "Basically all we did was remind them."

... In three cases conducted in the Philippines, Peru and Bolivia, the economists teamed up with local banks to send reminders to people randomly selected from those who had recently opened a savings account.

The banks sent several different types of messages, including letters in Peru and text messages in Bolivia and the Philippines. Some used negative language to stress the consequences of not saving money.

"If you don't frequently deposit into the Gihandom Savings account, your dream will not come true," warned one message in the Philippines.

While positive or negative language did not have a significant effect on the savings rate, mentioning a customer's specific goal did. When reminders mentioned incentives offered by the bank for consistent deposits, bank savings increased by almost 16%.

Posted on November 4, 2009 7:49 AM

Franchises should consider using SMS messaging

Editorial Advertisement: SMS messaging offers franchise operations the opportunity to send out individual or group messages in a few seconds and deliver these messages to the cellphones of a targeted list of contacts. With a bulk SMS costing less than a standard SMS, communications can be done in an affordable way.

“SMS messaging is growing as an accepted business communications tool in South Africa. Franchises are well placed to take advantage of this mobile channel,” says Dr Pieter Streicher, managing director of BulkSMS.com, a global mobile messaging provider headquartered in Cape Town.

Sending messages to one or many contact’s cellphones ensures that you can keep customers, supplier, staff and business partners in the loop with relevant and up-to-date information about a business process (such as a delivery), products and services.

There are three ways that SMS messaging can enhance business communications within a franchise operation: it provides a specific channel for the franchisor to send notifications to the franchisee; it increases operational efficiencies; and it can be used to market products and services to customers.

Enabling better inter-franchise communications

Franchisors can use SMS to alert or notify branches of new sales and training opportunities or simply keep franchisees up to date on matters relating to the franchise.

· A restaurant franchise may send an SMS to all restaurant owners notifying them to check their email for new recipes, updated menu items, or promotions.

· A courier operation uses SMS to keep all franchisees up to date on transport problems that may affect the delivery of items.

Increasing business efficiencies within franchise operation

One area where SMS messaging is providing value for businesses is in increasing internal operational efficiencies. This translates into better service levels, happier customers, and cost savings for the franchise.

· A printing business sends messages to their clients when printed goods are ready for collection.

· A car repair specialist sends an SMS a customer updating on progress with repairs or when the vehicle will be ready for collection.

· A courier service offers an SMS alert to the sender to track the progress or delivery of a parcel.

· A plumbing or gardening service confirms appointments with customers.

· A childcare service reminds parents about when fees are due, inform parents when their child is ill, or when the school will be closing for the holidays.

Effectively marketing products and services

An area where SMS messaging is on the rise is mobile marketing - the sending of marketing messages about products and services directly to customers’ cellphones.

Franchises need to bear in mind that they only contact customers that have explicitly requested marketing communications in the form of an SMS. In upholding consumer privacy, it is best to adhere to the hard opt-in rule when adding a number to a database. This means customers confirm that they agree to receive commercial messages on their cellphone at the point of sale or through a promotional campaign.

There are many types of mobile marketing campaigns that use bulk messaging to alert customers to specials or promotions:

· A gourmet food company uses bulk messaging to alert food-lovers about new recipes or food promotions.

· A dieting company keeps customers motivated by subscribing them to a health tip sent weekly to their cellphone.

· A travel agency sends out reminders to their customers about promotions on new holiday destinations and tours.

Weekly in October, Textually will be promoting BulkSMS, a company providing solutions to send and receive single and bulk SMS messages using the Internet, covering 700 networks globally.

Posted on October 27, 2009 3:14 PM

Pill Bottle Cap Sends SMS: Take your Meds

New pill bottle caps that connect to AT&T Inc.'s wireless network may soon remind you to take your meds. The State.com reports.

If the bottle isn't opened at the appointed time, the cap and night light start blinking to remind the owner to take the medication. If that doesn't serve as enough of a hint, they start playing jingles as well. If the bottle stays unopened, the night light will send a message to Vitality's system, which can then place an automated phone call or send a text message with a reminder.

A price for the new system hasn't been disclosed. Vitality hopes insurance and drug companies will get on board with the system and cover the cost.

Read full article.

Related: - SIMpill: Medication reminders via SMS - A wireless monitoring and support service for patients on chronic medication sends an SMS to the central server when the pill bottle is opened - allowing to check against a database that the incoming SMS is within the appointed time tolerance set for the patient, or should no message be received, the server can produce a number of responses such as sending a reminder to the patient's handset, a family member, or a healthcare professional.

Posted on October 8, 2009 6:06 AM

Send and Receive Text Messages with BulkSMS

BulkSMS provides solutions to send and receive single and bulk SMS messages using the Internet, covering 700 networks globally.

Here are some ideas for using sms by BulkSMS:

Banking. SMS services enable banks to provide better customer service. These include sending transaction notifications, balances summaries or statement notifications or information services such as rates and special offers.

Bidding: SMS services extend the functionality of auctions services to the mobile/wireless devices such as mobile bidding and special interest alerts.

Company: SMS services to help a company stay in touch with their staff and customers by sending meeting confirmations, important notices, incentive messages and product announcements.

Credit Card: SMS services to notify when purchases are made, of current balances and special offers.

Financial: SMS services to send portfolio information, stock quotes, price alerts and news headlines.

Groups: SMS services to help groups communicate with each other about activities, meeting and special interest information.

Locate: SMS services offering driving directions, yellow pages, street address directory, e-taxi, traffic delays and flight arrival/departure update

Marketing: SMS services to support marketing campaigns and promotional activities via coupons, special offers and incentives.

Personal Info: SMS services offering reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, gifts, public holidays, bill payments, meetings, tasks & events.

Posted on October 5, 2009 8:35 AM

Italian Ministry Offers Free SMS Information Service

In July, the the Italian Ministry of the Interior launched on its web portal a short messaging information service for citizens.

The users of the entirely free of charge service will regularly receive, on their mobile phone, text messages with the Ministry’s latest news as well as relevant notifications, reminders, invitations to events and much more.

[via The Gov Monitor]

Posted on September 4, 2009 8:47 AM

Text Message Reminders help Teen Transplant Patients

A study looked at improving compliance rates in pediatric liver transplant recipients by using text messaging.

The study looked at 41 young people (average age 15 years) who were liver transplant recipients. The MediM AS system from CareSpeak Communications, which funded the study, was used to decide which time of day patients/or caregivers preferred to receive a medication reminder via text message. Once the message was received, the patients had 15 minutes to send a reply text confirming the medication had been taken. Another message would be automatically sent to the parents if they did not. Researchers tracked by computer how many times patients replied, did not reply or had to have parental intervention.

In the year prior to the study, 12 of 41 patients experienced rejection that required hospitalization and treatment because the patient’s body rejected the transplant due to improper medication dosage. But one year into this study, just two patients suffered rejection of the liver.

Posted on June 5, 2009 9:21 AM

When the Cellphone Teaches Sex Education

According to Health experts, intimate, private and crucial information can be delivered to teenagers on the device that holds millions captive: their cellphones. The New York Times reports.

Programs in Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Toronto and San Francisco allow young people to text a number, select from a menu of frequently asked questions (“What 2 do if the condom broke”) and receive automated replies, with addresses of free clinics. Last month, California started HookUp 365247, a statewide text-messaging service. The texter can type a ZIP code and get a local clinic referral, as well as weekly health tips.

“Technology reduces the shame and embarrassment,” said Deb Levine, executive director of ISIS, a nonprofit organization that began many technology-based reproductive health programs. “It’s the perceived privacy that people have when they’re typing into a computer or a cellphone. And it’s culturally appropriate for young people: they don’t learn about this from adults lecturing them.”

Read full article.

Related:

-- SexInfo Via SMS

-- u've got Chlamydia

-- New service offer Corby youngsters safe text

-- Teens secretly txt their problems to nurse

-- Pill reminder text message launched

Posted on May 3, 2009 10:26 AM

Pill Dispenser With SMS Reminder Feature

Ubergizmo reports on a pill dispenser with an SMS alert system.

Designer Steven Grech has come up with a new pill dispenser that aims to improve patient compliance as it features an alert system via SMS to remind the user to pop designated pills are pre-programmed times of the day. The device will also record when you took your medication, showing the pharmacist the correct intervals.

Posted on February 19, 2009 6:34 PM

Pull My Finger iPhone app. Rude noises

An iPhone app called "Pull my Finger" that makes rude noises has been cleared by the Apple store. [via Pocket Picks]

Just as a reminder, there was a time when the most popular ringtone was a whoopie cushion tone.

Posted on December 16, 2008 9:23 AM

Beware of the Doghouse

A reminder of what will happen if you get your girl the wrong gift this year. A Saatchi & Saatchi production for JC Penney. A brilliant campaign using online video.

Posted on November 22, 2008 4:01 PM

Paving the path to the White House, one text message at a time

160characters looks into the way text messaging played a key role in reaching voters in this presidential election and how Obama used the mobile medium in innovative ways. Excerpts:

Whereas McCain used mobile phones for traditional telephone canvassing, Obama turned to the medium of messaging to promote new speeches, important TV appearances and major rallies. If he was campaigning in your area, he’d let you know.

Innovatively the campaign also had the foresight to register a common short code (CSC) that numerically represents the word ‘Obama’ (62262). This code was used during the mobile message alert opt-in process and delivered subscribers issue-specific updates on subjects such as health care policy, education, and the war in Iraq.

Obama’s mobile campaign has been one that has worked at every stage.

Text messaging has proved to be a powerful tool in getting American voters to the polls. It has reinvented the “get-out-the-vote” machines and at $1.26 per voter, has also proved a more cost effective alternative to traditional campaigning methods, such as automated calls and door-to-door canvassing (which cost around $20-$30 per voter).

... Text message reminders to new voters increased an individual’s likelihood of voting by close to 5 percentage points. This is an increase similar to ‘quality phone call’ reminders but at a fraction of the cost.

Read full article.

Posted on November 6, 2008 11:29 AM

Mobile phones 'boost school standards'

Schoolchildren should be allowed to use mobile phones in the classroom to boost education standards, according to researchers, reports The Telelgraph.

Despite fears that mobiles and MP3 players are a huge distraction, it is claimed schools can get the most out of pupils by giving them full-time access to the latest gadgets.

Academics said mobiles could be used for a wide range of educational purposes, including creating short movies, setting homework reminders, recording a teacher reading a poem and timing science experiments.

New-style "smartphones", which can connect to the internet, also allowed pupils to access revision websites, log into the school email system, or transfer electronic files between school and home.

Employing them as part of day-to-day lessons boosts pupils' motivation levels, it was claimed.

The conclusions comes despite high-profile calls from teaching unions for an all-out ban on the use of mobiles in schools."

Related: - Phone a friend in exams - A Sydney girls' school is redefining the concept of cheating by allowing students to "phone a friend" and use the internet and i-Pods during exams

Posted on September 4, 2008 10:08 AM

Text messaging a plus for Obama campaign

A Michigan researcher says releasing Sen. Barack Obama's vice presidential choice in a text message will net his campaign millions of cell phone numbers. UPI reports.

Researcher Allison Dale of the University of Michigan says the move could result in the biggest text messaging experiment ever.

"They're enticing people with a little bit of information," Dale says. "and once they have those numbers, they can use them again for mobilization."

Dale, a graduate student, was co-author of a study of 4,000 people released last September on the effects of text messaging."

The study found that people who received a text message reminder to vote one day before an election were 4.2 percent more likely to get to the polls. "

Related: - Obama to Announce VP Via Text Message

Posted on August 19, 2008 8:32 PM

Drinking, driving and using a mobile phone

Just another reminder of the obvious. No drinking and no mobile talking while driving.

A 23 year old woman from Manchester, UK has been sentenced to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and given a five year driving ban. She was arrested following an accident where she was found to be both over the alcohol limit, but also using a mobile phone at the time of the crash.

[via Cellular News]

Posted on July 13, 2008 8:15 PM

Estee Lauder offer free Gift Time SMS Text alert service

Estee Lauder has announced the introduction of a new free Gift Time SMS Text Reminder service which allows UK customers to sign up online to receive text messages to alert them that Gift Time (Estee Lauder's Gift with Purchase offer) is starting at their chosen store.

Press release

Posted on July 12, 2008 3:30 PM

Hollywood Writers Make Their Own Web Platform: Strike.TV

Strike.TV, which has some part of its origins in the strike blog/community site United Hollywood, will feature a large set of self-funded original series, according to its MySpace profile.

Each show be owned by its creator, and profits from the first 45 shows will be donated to the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund, which assists non-WGA members who were impacted by the strike.

Strike.tv will launch July 4.

[via NewTeeVee]

Posted on June 13, 2008 9:45 PM

Nagging texts help teens remember to take meds

4gt yr meds? Getting kids to remember their medicine may be a text message away. USA Today reports.

"Cincinnati doctors are experimenting with texting to tackle a big problem: Tweens and teens too often do a lousy job of controlling chronic illnesses like asthma, diabetes or kidney disease.

Some studies suggest only half of adolescents, on average, properly follow treatment steps, says Dr. Dennis Drotar of Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

... Dr. Maria Britto, an asthma specialist at Cincinnati Children's, noticed that even when she's talking to adolescent patients perched on the clinic exam table, they'll keep texting on their cellphones.

But it sparked the idea for a study to see if a daily medication reminder via text message would improve kids' asthma control — preventing full-blown attacks, improving school attendance and decreasing doctor and emergency-room visits.

Pilot testing recently began, with a full study set for later this year. Participants say what time they want the reminder, and a clinic volunteer types out the messages — words spelled out, no mimicking of kids' text lingo."

It seems to be working.

Posted on May 13, 2008 8:17 AM

Soldier In Afghanistan Accidentally Calls Parents In The Middle Of A Battle

An American soldier in Afghanistan accidentally dialed his parents' phone number in Oregon, just as he was in the middle of a battle. Techdirt reports.

"His parents weren't home, but the message was recorded on their voicemail, including (as you might expect) guns firing, lots of swearing, and the son yelling about problems he was having with his gun as well as the need for more ammunition. Even worse, the call cut off just as another soldier yelled "Incoming! RPG!"

The voice mail has been posted on YouTube via KPTV.

As you might imagine, the parents were a bit freaked out, but eventually reached their son, who says he's a bit embarrassed by the whole ordeal. Yet another reminder to make sure to "lock" the keypad on your phone. "

Posted on May 7, 2008 6:03 PM