UK: People More Likely to Text Than To Use The Phone

[engine]

I'm probably a relatively high-user of e-mail, but there's no way i'm sending 50 texts per week. It might be more like one or two per week.

UK: People More Likely to Text Than To Use The Phone [bbc.co.uk]

People in the UK are now more likely to text than to make a phone call, according to new research from Ofcom.

The average UK consumer now sends 50 texts per week while fewer calls are being made on both fixed and mobile phones.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Yes, I am the same but it's probably an age thing. ;o)

Actually I hardly ever use my mobile as I am sat beside a land line all day most days.

[Old_Honky]

I rarely send a text, I find it hard work to reply to the ones I do receive. I phone or email if I want a record of the message. Texting is awkward on a small keyboard, and life is too short to keep turning off the bloody predictive text feature (it seems to reset itself for some reason). I realise that my advanced age puts me into the "old fart" category and that I will never embrace texting, it is probably because I don't feel the need to constantly send trivial messages written in a sort of mangled patois to assorted friends , family and casual acquaintances every few minutes.

However texting seems to be popular amongst the younger people, so much so that it will soon be more popular than actually talking.

[brotherhood of LAN]

I can think of a few reasons why

- a lot of the networks offer 'unlimited texts' and a set amount of voice minutes.

- you can text knowing you're not really interrupting the person receiving it, and they can reply when it's convenient, much like e-mail. they're basically less invasive... particularly for drivers.

- efficiency. you may just want to ask something like 'are you coming yet' rather than the hullabaloo of a call.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

you may just want to ask something like 'are you coming yet'.

I hope that doesn't mean what it sounds like? :-O

[piatkow]

I send fewer since I got a smart phone as I find the touch screen more difficult to type on.

It has its advantages, no background noise problems, no problems with signal dropping in mid call, usually cheaper, no waiting for people who put the phone at the bottom of a bag and leave voicemail off.

On the other hand I can't get a signal in the village where I live so, since retiring from the day job, I am back to email or landline.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I send fewer since I got a smart phone as I find the touch screen more difficult to type on.

I just got my first smart phone last week and I too find the screen difficult. My big fingers keep attracting the wrong keys!

Anyone know what can be used as a stylus?

[engine]

>Anyone know what can be used as a stylus?

You can buy capacitive styli, and some are better than others. You just need to try it to see which one works best with your device. Oh, and there are some rubbish styli around, too.

I've found that turning the phone through 90 degrees increases the type area, making it easier for those of us with bigger fingers.

I agree, texting is cheaper than calling, and less intrusive, so if you're sending lots it's probably quite cost-effective, especially for the youngsters that are still at school.

[lucy24]

you can text knowing you're not really interrupting the person receiving it, and they can reply when it's convenient, much like e-mail. they're basically less invasive... particularly for drivers.

Oh, my, you are out of touch aren't you. If you are under 30, it is understood that text messages have to be read and answered right this very instant-- even if sender and recipient both happen to be doing something that ought to take up their full attention. Like operating motor vehicles, or talking with live, in-the-flesh humans.

[jecasc]

My big fingers keep attracting the wrong keys!

Do it like I do: Write your messages on a piece of paper, take a photo and then send the picture. Much faster.

[johnhh]

If you are under 30, it is understood that text messages have to be read and answered right this very instant

I think thats under 40 actually, as I have a friend that always texts , so I just pick up the phone and call :)

[incrediBILL]

Text and email have the advantage of not being time sensitive for the participants whereas the voice call requires both participants being available at the same time. I've always preferred email, text and even IM and now Twitter for that very reason. I can send it whenever it occurs to me or is convenient and get a reply at the convenience of the other party. Plus, time delayed conversations make communicating with people in different timezones MUCH easier than trying to convene via voice or Skype.

I loathe being interrupted by the phone when I'm programming, watching TV, listening to music, standing on the stage at PubCon, or breathing. Don't know when it changed because I used to love chatting on the phone in the 80s when I lived in KC. Maybe it was that I used to know some really interesting and funny people that were a hoot to talk with back then, or maybe it was those clear easy-to-hear landlines. I think the real issue for me today is the choppy voice reception in the SF Bay Area and constantly going "HUH? WHAT? CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?" really kills a good conversation, especially dropped calls, and that doesn't happen with email, text, IM, Twitter, etc.

Text rules, choppy reception drools.

Can you hear me now?

What's idiotic is when you walk up to a group of people standing in a hall all texting away as fast as they can go, with each other no less, when they could just be talking out loud.

That's just nuts to the extreme.

<amusing tale>
I was just starting to speak at a PubCon session and I heard what sounded like a cell phone. The session moderator confirmed not only was it a cell phone, but my ass was ringing. Thought I'd turned off my phone, guess not. So I tell the sleepy crowd "Pardon me, but my ass is ringing" and answer it. Turns out it was my daughter wishing me Happy Birthday a week early because of an erroneous date on Facebook. Wouldn't you think MY kid should've known my own damn b'day? Crowd was quite amused and now wide awake for my presentation thanks to Facebook and my daughter.
</amusing tale>