SMS Text Messages and Instant Messages in the Business Community

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SMS Text Messages and Instant Messages in the
Business Community
Tim OBrien Info 200 Section 01 Spring 2006
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SMS Text Messaging

• Many companies have started to experiment with
  new ways of correspondence. Short Message
  Service, or (SMS), Text messaging is the fastest
  growing of these experiments.
• Text messages have made communication easier with
  time sensitive material.
• Dates, times, phone numbers and location can be
  sent and received quicker because you dont have
  hassle with the tedious voicemail systems.
• Also you do not have to write down the
  information from the voicemail to a planner, it
  is right there on the screen for you look at when
  you need it.
• The most important part of text messages is that
  they enable the reader to send and receive
  messages on occasions when they are unable to
  actually talk on the phone.

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SMS Text Messaging and Instant Messaging in the
Business Community

• Text Messaging has become a key source of
  transmitting information over the past few years.
• Previously companies have used emails to
  correspond with employees. That didnt seem to
  work for British Airways their people are always
  on the move and dont have the time to check
  their emails every couple of hours. By the time
  they do get around to the emails it can be too
  late and they may miss their new assignments.

• British Airways CitiExpress has recently started
  to use SMS text messages to solve this problem.
  They send texts from headquarters that inform its
  employees of changes in flight times and
  maintenance schedules.
• They are doing this so that the employee will
  receive the message without delay.

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SMS Text Messaging and Instant Messaging in the
Business Community

• Instant Messages are another way that Businesses
  are experimenting with communication.
• They can be used in various circumstances from
  small questions that can be answered on the spot,
  to group projects that may take some time.
• It can take away the hassle of making a long
  distance phone call and could potentially save
  the company a great deal of money in the long
  run.
• Instant messages enable workers to effectively do
  a project online, across the country, and
  communicate with ease.
• It can also make the employees more comfortable
  talking with one another, no matter what rank
  they are in the organization. This allows for
  better and faster results.

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Problems with SMS Text Messaging and Instant
Messaging

• With all the pros of Instant Messaging and Text
  Messages there are also some very important cons.
• First is the problem with hackers. Hackers can
  easily send viruses through Instant Messages.
  They can sign on as a random name and then send a
  person a message. As soon as that person accepts
  the message the hacker is able to send the person
  anything they want, including viruses.
• Second is the problem with stolen identity and
  information. This is common because employees
  freely send information through instant messages.
  Unknowingly, many send sensitive material over
  the internet and there is no way of preventing it
  from getting into the wrong hands.

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Problems with SMS Text Messaging and Instant
Messaging

• Third is lost phones. If a phone is lost or
  stolen, all the information stored on the phone
  is vulnerable. If important messages are stored
  on the phone, there is no way of deleting them.
  Whoever has the phone has control of everything
  on it from numbers to text messages.
• Unlike emails which are protected through the
  security designed by the companys IT department,
  text and instant messages have no protection.

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Summary

• Text and Instant messaging are shaping our
  society today. They are valuable tools that are
  at our fingertips. Businesses are taking
  advantage of them, but they do come with some
  cost. Until there is a way to monitor the
  messages there is no way of protecting the
  employees or the company from the dangers that
  are out there.
• Hopefully soon there will be an answer for these
  dangers. The protection has to catch up to pace
  of technology.
• Although some companies are experimenting with
  communication, most are still sticking to the
  safe ways of messaging, email and telephone
  calls.