LINDSEY BOERMA
Living Assistant
Their fingers fly faster than Clark Kent in his Superman apparel. Their knowledge of a cellular phone keypad can outdo even Einstein’s understanding of numbers and letters.
They are the text-messaging addicts of Pepperdine University, and they are taking over campus.
Whether you’re in the HAWC, the library or even class, you can’t help but notice someone nearby tapping out a text message as quickly and rhythmically as if using Morse code.
And with the convenience of being able to send a quick message to someone virtually any time and any place via cellular phone, it’s no wonder that text messaging has become one of the world’s favorite forms of communication.
“I’d say that I text message 5 to 10 times a day,” freshman Zak Zeinert said.
“I think that text messages are better than calling in certain circumstances, like when you’re in class or just need to leave a message. It’s a good way to get a hold of somebody when either one of you are busy.”
In addition to being expedient, students agree that text messaging also makes communicating with others easier and less time-consuming.
Many also appreciate the casual nature of text messages.
“Sometimes I send text messages just because there are things I don’t want to say to people’s faces,” freshman Autumn Ferrell said. “Or, there are times when I just don’t feel like talking, and texting is good then too.”
It seems, however, that college students in particular rely heavily on text messaging.
“I think college students use [text messages] more because they know technology better than adults, and can rely more on it,” Zeinert said.
Ferrell, however, believes that college students often depend on text messaging because of their busy schedules.
“It’s a good thing for students because text messaging allows them to do two things at once,” she said. “Like when you’re in class or doing something else, it’s a good way to communicate.”
Text messaging has commenced from merely a form of communication, however. Companies like Glomobi have taken advantage of the opportunity to create a market out of text message services.
Now, you can get special features such as jokes, news and advice sent to your cell phone for a certain fee.
Fees associated with text messaging often hits Pepperdine students’ wallets.
According to a Verizon Wireless company representative, Verizon offers two messaging promotions.
The first is the IN Messaging promotion, which allows people to benefit from unlimited text, picture, and video messaging with any other Verizon Wireless customer and an additional package of messages with non-Verizon Wireless customers.
The second is the basic text, picture and video messaging package, which can be used with any wireless customer.
The IN Messaging packages range from between $10 to $15, depending on message amount.
The basic text package is $5 and includes 250 messages.
With either package, each message that exceeds your message allowance is charged 10 cents per message.
Students such as junior Erica Tang say these text messaging prices are too high.
“I think the price for text messaging packages is far too expensive,” Tang said. “I pay $5 a month, and I don’t even use them that often when I’m at school.”
The high price for text messaging, however, is finally starting to pay off in cold, hard cash.
LG, a phone company in conjunction with Verizon, is holding a National Text Messaging Championship in which a competitor can win up to $25,000 by typing out text messages faster than anyone else.
On March 31, regional competitions within the East and West Coasts, will take place in New York City and Los Angeles.
The winners of each competition will receive $10,000 and the West Coast winner will get an all-expense paid trip to New York City, where they will have a “text-off” April 21 for the chance to win $15,000.
The marketing strategy of LG and Verizon is clearly at work in the contest, as all participants are required to own an LG enV or V phone with an active Verizon service.
This competition is not the first time people will be treating text messaging as a sport.
According to a July 2006 press release by NBC, Ben Cook set the Guinness World Record for speed of text messaging by typing the phrase “The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human.” in 42.22 seconds.
Prior to Cook’s reign, the record was held by a 23-year-old woman from Singapore at 43.24 seconds set on June 27, 2004.
“I’m from Singapore, and my friend competed in a text messaging contest there, and got second place to the girl who held the Guinness World Record,” Tang said. “I think the contests are a good idea because they help companies promote their phones.”
Other Pepperdine students are not as receptive to this concept of a text messaging contest, however.
“I wouldn’t participate because I personally think that taking part in a text messaging contest would qualify me as a loser,” Zeinert said.
“I mean, I guess some people will enter because they’ll do anything for prizes, but I think it’s just a silly idea.”
Ferrell disagrees with the contest because of its frivolous monetary spendings.
“It’s dumb to waste all that money when there are starving kids in Africa,” she said. “But I mean, I would consider entering just because I’m pretty fast at text messaging.”
Regardless of whether students agree on the contest, however, it is certain that text messaging has indeed influenced a culture.
“I think it’s a good thing that college students use text messaging so much, because it’s really useful as a technology and people use it all the time,” Tang said.
03-29-2007