What is SMS?

Millions of people use SMS text messages on a daily basis, but what is it exactly? Short Message Service (SMS) is a method of communication that sends text messages between cell phones, or from a computer or handheld device to a cell phone. The messages are considered “short” due to the maximum size of 160 characters (letters, numbers or symbols).

SMS text messages are not only used for person-to-person communication but also organization-to-subscriber for a variety of services including marketing, promotions, emergency alerts and entertainment services. SMS is also a convenient way for deaf and hearing-impaired people to communicate.

SMS Text Messaging is currently the most widely used data application in the world with billions of users. As recently reported by CTIA – The Wireless Association, in the United States alone there are over 327 million wireless subscribers. 1.14 trillion text messages were sent in the first six months of 2011.

Recent findings from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project state that approximately 73% of adult cell phone owners use the text messaging function on their phone at least occasionally. Text messaging users send or receive more than 40 messages per day on average, and cell phone owners between the ages of 18 and 24 send an average of 109.5 messages per day.

So how does it work?

When your cell phone is turned on, even when not in use, it is constantly sending and receiving cell phone tower information via a control channel pathway. When someone sends you an SMS message, the message flows through the short message service center (SMSC), then to the tower, and the tower sends the message to your phone as a little packet of data on the control channel. In the same way, when you send a message, your phone sends it to the tower on the control channel and it goes from the tower to the SMSC and from there to its destination.

Message data includes not only the message content, but also the length of the message, a time stamp, and the destination phone number. Your cell phone does not have to be active or in range to receive a message. The message will be stored in the SMSC (for days if necessary) until you turn on your cell phone on or move into range, at which point the message is delivered. The message will remain stored on your cell phone SIM card until you delete it.

The Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocol is an industry protocol for sending SMS text messages between peer entities like short message service centers. It is used to allow service providers like news organizations and text marketing companies to submit messages in mass format to individuals.

An SMS gateway can allow SMS text messages to be sent and received by email via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), from web pages or from other software applications. By attaching the appropriate wireless carrier domain name to a cell phone number, it becomes an address capable of receiving text messages.

SMS Advantages

• Allows discreet conversations.
• Does not require access to a computer.
• SMS doesn’t overload the network as much as phone calls.
• High visibility as most phones allow some sort of push notification to alert recipients of message immediately upon receipt.

SMS Disadvantages

• Cost. Some wireless plans only charge for user-originated messages, while others charge for incoming messages as well.
• No guarantee of immediate delivery, as periods of high traffic can delay messages by minutes or even hours.
• SMS does not support sending pictures, video or music files.

Are You Cool in a Crisis?

You can never truly know how you will react in a crisis situation until one actually happens.  However, we can plan and train ourselves mentally and physically to anticipate the type of stressful situations we might find ourselves in.

James Grinnell, an Associate Professor of Management at Merrimack College, has written an article entitled “During the Golden Hour of Crisis Will You Be Captain Cool or Captain Coward?” He begins by comparing the actions of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger on US Airways flight 1549 with Captain Franceso Schettino aboard the Costa Concordia cruise ship. One is called a hero and the other a coward, but why such vastly different reactions in a crisis?

How we respond in a crisis can be influenced by many factors, including our personal beliefs and fears. Our bodies kick into high gear when we are in a stressful situation which can product the “fight-or-flight” response. As a result, our physical body undergoes changes including an increase in heart rate and blood pressure as adrenaline pours into the bloodstream.

Most often, people who are able to stay calm in a crisis are those who focus on what it is they need to do rather than what is happening to them. It is an outward focus that shifts attention away from the self to that of others around you.

A quick and effective response is an important aspect of crisis management. Situational awareness is an extremely important factor, and individuals who have it are more apt to respond correctly and effectively when faced with a crisis. Training can greatly increase situational awareness skills, as those who have been exposed to crisis situations are more likely to respond correctly when the real thing occurs.

Team building and good leadership skills are also extremely important. A leader should exhibit openness, honesty and a commitment to others in order to build the level of trust needed to take charge in an emergency.

Some guidelines suggested by the author to help mitigate negative crisis response:

• Establish responsibility for managing the crisis ASAP and establish a decision-making process for dealing with the crisis.
• Commit to making the response to crisis a team effort (to the extent feasible) and determine who will be involved in the crisis response team.
• Develop a communications strategy clarifying what will be communicated and to whom.
• Balance need for information with need for reassurance; don’t lie, play down the situation, or speculate.
• Gather situational intelligence and be sure to adaptively align actions with emerging situational clarity.

To read the full article, visit: http://www.pmhut.com/during-the-golden-hour-of-crisis-will-you-be-captain-cool-or-captain-coward

New Monthly Training Sessions

For customers who are interested in refreshing their skills with the Rapid Notify system, we will be hosting free online training sessions every month, beginning in March. These web-based training sessions will be an excellent way to refresh and enhance your knowledge of the Rapid Notify system. We try to accommodate different schedules and time zones by offering multiple training webinars monthly, varying from 30 to 60 minutes in length, as refresher courses for seasoned users or as comprehensive introductory sessions for new users.

Online training sessions will cover a variety of topics as determined by customer feedback and interest. Instructor-led sessions include topics such as:

• User training
• Administrator training
• Best practices
• Reporting
• Open Q&A session

Exact dates and times are still being determined. A follow up announcement will include instructions on how to register for the training date and time of your choice.  If you need assistance immediately, please feel free to email our outstanding Customer Support team to schedule a training session at your convenience.