Text Messaging
Answering service text messaging is typically used to deliver
nonpriority message to Telephone Answering Service customers.
Text messaging has largely replaced alpha
paging and digital
paging with the growing popularity of cell phones. Similar
to alpha and digital paging, text messaging has both advantages
and disadvantages.
What Is Text Messaging?
Text messaging is a technology incorporated into many cell
phones and are alpha-numeric messages that are sent to a cell
phone user's cell phone in the form of text. A text message
will appear in a digital, readable format on the screen of the
user's cell phone detailing information collected by the answering
service. Text messaging will often carry a monthly charge from
the cell phone provider to allow the phone to receive and send
text messages. This charge is anywhere from $.10/message to
unlimited messags per month for $5-$10. Text messaging is often
limited to no more than 160 characters per message. Longer messages
can be sent, though the message will be sent in blocks of 160
characters.
Anwering Service Text Messaging Strengths
Text messaging is an economical way to quickly receive messages
no matter where you are. Text messaging has the benefit of providing
users with information about a message without the customer
having to write it down. Combined with other message delivery
options, like live
operator calling out messages and emailing
answering service messages, text messaging can be used to
better manage customer contacts and messages. Text messaging
has also been a very quick method of message
delivery.
Text Messaging Weaknesses
Text messaging has similar weaknesses to digital and alpha
paging when used on a stand alone basis. When a text message
is sent out to a customer, the customer may or may not recieve
that message, or the message may be delayed. Cell phone companies
have not always been 100% reliable in sending out text messages
in a timely fashion. At TAS, we refer to this method of message
delivery as an "open loop" system. In other words,
the call center has no way of knowing whether or not a message
has been recieved by the client once the message has been sent
from the answering service to the cell phone provider.
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