Planet Text: How SMS Messaging is Changing the World

PLANET "Where are you?" "Meet me upstairs." TEXT "Transfer 200 dollars." They're the short messages that increasingly form the bulk of human interactions. But if you think it's big in the US, take a look at the HOW SMS MESSAGING IS CHANGING THE WORLD rest of the world. From banking to health care, tex- ting is reshaping every aspect of how humans live. THERE ARE 4.2 BILLION TEXTERS WORLDWIDE. THAT'S 3 OUT OF 5 HUMANS ON EARTH. THAT'S MORE THAN: ff f f THE POPULATION OF THE ENTIRE WORLD IN 1975. 5X THE NUMBER OF 4X THE NUMBER OF FACEBOOK MEMBERS. MONTHLY GOOGLE USERS. TEXTING IS THE #1 MOST USED DATA SERVICE IN THE WORLD. IN 2010: THAT'S 193,430 6.1 TRILLION TEXTS TEXTS SENT WERE SENT PER SECOND. WORLDWIDE. *TICK A 338% INCREASE FROM 2007. LOL WHERE TTYL U? HEY! HUH? WTF OMG! BRB THE FEATURE PHONE, AKA 'DUMB PHONE' IS THE #1 SELLING ELECTRONIC PRODUCT IN THE WORLD. #1 PHONE TEXTING IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE DEVELOPING WORLD. IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: 2 IN 3 PEOPLE HAVE MOBILE PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS. 48 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE HAVE CELL PHONES BUT NO ELECTRICITY, OFTEN CHARGING THEIR PHONES USING CAR BATTERIES. BY 2012, 1.7 BILLION WILL HAVE PHONES BUT NO BANK ACCOUNT. CELL PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS OUTPACE BANK ACCOUNTS IN MANY COUNTRIES. 10 20 30 40 60 70 GHANA per 100 people KENYA Mobile-phone subscriptions NIGERIA Bank deposit UGANDA accounts MOZAMBIQUE RWANDA BURUNDI CASE STUDIES: TEXTING FOR G0OD AROUND THE GLOBE, TEXTING IS IMPROVING LIFE IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. AFGHANISTAN: POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVED A 36% BOOST IN SALARY. IN 2009, NATO LAUNCHED A PILOT PROGRAM TO DELIVER AFGHANI POLICE OFFICERS THEIR SALARIES BY PHONE, THWARTING CORRUPT MIDDLEMEN THAT HAD BEEN PILFERING LARGE PORTIONS OF PAYCHECKS. GHANA AND NIGERIA: It's Cool. AS MANY AS 1 IN 4 PILLS SOLD IN POOR COUNTRIES ARE COUNTERFEIT. HP DEVELOPED A SYSTEM THAT LETS GHANAIANS AND NIGERIANS TEXT A CODE FROM THEIR MEDICINE WRAPPER TO A DATABASE THAT TELLS THEM WHETHER OR NOT IT'S REAL. THE PHILIPPINES: 87% OF FILIPINOS PREFER COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR GOV'T BY TEXT MESSAGE. Lame. FORMER PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO SET UP TEXTING LINES FOR 54 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. RESIDENTS CAN REPORT CRIME, DRUG ACTIVITY, AND GENERAL COMPLAINTS BY TEXT MESSAGE. KENYA: FAMILIES' INCOMES ROSE 5-30% 13 MILLION, OR 1 IN 3 KENYANS, USE THE MOBILE BANKING SERVICE M-PESA, WHICH LETS USERS TRANSFER MONEY, RECEIVE SALARIES, AND PAY BILLS VIA TEXT MESSAGE. CREATED BY: MBAONLINE.COM REFERENCES: HTTP://WwW.THEATLANTIC.COM/TECHNOLOGY/ARCHIVE/2011/08/WHY- TEXTING-IS-THE-MOST-IMPORTANT-INFORMATION-SERVICE-IN-THE-WORLD/242951/ HTTP://wwW.GEEKSUGAR.COM/HOW-DO-YOU-CHARGE-UP-WITHOUT- ELECTRICITY-248854HTTP://NEWS.CNET.COM/8301-13860 3-20007150-56.HTML HTTP://WwW.ECONOMIST.COM/NODE/18008202 HTTP://NEWS.CNET.COM/8301-13860 3-20007150-56.HTML THIS WORK IS UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE. ההו