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A Fine SMS We've Gotten Ourselves Into
The Travel Technologist · August 16, 2001

No one ever seems to wonder if Short Messaging System technology belongs on a cell phone. That's probably because SMS is already a hit in Europe, especially with teen-agers who have learned to use a phone keypad to type with uncanny proficiency. And despite some hardware and interoperability issues, the text-messaging protocol is now catching on in the States, too.

But someone should be asking if SMS is a good idea. Not for the throngs of high school students who use messaging to exchange virtual love notes, gripes about their teachers and answers to exam questions. They can have their SMS as long as parents are willing to pay their phone bills. Instead, take a minute to ponder whether this new technology will help frequent travelers.

I doubt it will.

Usability questions. I'm currently testing SMS services offered by Verizon Wireless, and although the system works flawlessly, getting to the point where you can hit "send" is a frustrating and counter-intuitive process. The Kyocera QCP 2035a, like its big brother that merges a Palm Pilot with a phone is as easy to use as a straight cell phone, but cumbersome to send text messages from. Typing on the numeric keypad is dreadfully slow for someone used to a regular keyboard - or even a Palm-style graffiti text entry system - making me just want to pick up the phone and place an old-fashioned voice call. A recent IDC report on SMS noted that widespread acceptance of this technology would depend on "easing input of text." It added, "Currently, too much button-pushing is required to enter text messages." Here's one instance in which I agree with the analysts.

Cost. SMS isn't free. It costs 10 cents to send a message, 2 cents to receive one. That kind of reminds me of the early days of the Web, when CompuServe charged users for sending messages to the Internet. Even the hard-core SMS addicts who buy a bulk plan ($7.99 gives you 600 messages) could easily exceed that monthly quota, resulting in a sizeable phone bill.

Interoperability. Not all SMS systems play nice together - in other words, the text-messaging systems aren't all compatible. Four major cell phone makers have announced they're developing what they call "enhanced" instant messaging (EMS). This open standard, to be adopted by Ericsson, Alcatel, Motorola and Siemens, would not only make text messaging more accessible to end-users, but will also increase the length of messages. New services will also let you download and exchange screen savers, images, and ring melodies from the Internet. But new phones with EMS aren't scheduled to begin shipping until later this year. Until then, your SMS phone can only communicate with others on your network using your standard.

Safety. You knew this was coming. It's bad enough to be talking on a cell phone and driving. But add SMS and you're courting disaster. The cell phone lobby continues to maintain that driving and talking is no more distracting than having a conversation with another passenger. But the latest research seems to contradict that. I recently heard from Tiffanie Markus, who wrote a Southern Illinois University master's thesis about driving and talking on a cell phone. "When a driver is required to make a quick response to some change in the driving situation - for example, having to brake unexpectedly - then his or her ability to make the appropriate response in an appropriate amount of time is greatly impaired," Markus reported. I can only imagine what response times would be like if SMS were introduced. But please don't conduct any field tests on my account. I'd rather just accept it as hazardous and move one.

Privacy. The real danger to frequent travelers, however, is what SMS could do for working conditions. SMS is just one strain of several other communication technologies that include the wildly popular instant messaging offered by the likes of America Online and other presence technologies designed to track you down in real time. Think about that for a second. If everyone in your company used SMS or EMS, then a day could come soon when your supervisor will know where you are all the time. Not only that, but your supervisor would be able to reach you anytime. Your boss could also monitor your productivity by keeping tabs on your presence (as if where you are ever had anything to do with how much work you were able to do - but hey, that's often how folks in management see it).

Bottom line: resist short messaging. It's expensive, it doesn't always work, it's difficult to use, dangerous and it invades your privacy. Those of us who travel for business must draw a metaphorical line somewhere and say "no more" - and SMS is that place.

Don't go calling me a luddite now. I'm all in favor of technology that makes sense. It's just that in its current incarnation, SMS is a bad choice for frequent travelers. I continue to support personal digital assistants and cell phones with e-mail access, but this is different. This threatens to turn your cell phone into an AOL chat room. A very dangerous chat room.

It's not worth it.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Annapolis, Md. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. The Travel Technologist appears weekly on this site. This story was also published on Biztravel.com.