State Department to Text Obama Speech

President Barack Obama’s latest diplomatic offensive employs a technology familiar to any ‘tweener: text messaging. GadgetWise.Blogs.NYTimes reports.

Highlights from the President’s June 4 speech in Cairo will be the first-ever texted in 13 languages to more than 200 countries.

But mobile users in the United States will not be able to receive the messages. That’s because the text blast is being paid for by the Department of State. State Department funds, by law, can only be used to address foreign audiences.

People receiving the texts are encouraged to send responses, which will be posted online. Although Americans can’t receive the texts, they can view the responses at www.america.gov/sms-comments.html, which will show a running thread during the speech.

emily | 8:30 AM | |
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