The Text Capital Of The World
Author: Mikael Andersohn

The Philippines is known as the text capital of the world. This
is because the most number of messages being sent daily in
mobile network servers are from the Philippines.

The proliferation and widespread use of SMS messaging in the
Philippines began during the early days of the cellular phone
craze in the country. In the beginning, mobile networks do not
make charges for sending SMS. People have taken advantage of the
service and made use of text messaging to communicate
effectively with friends, family and acquaintances.

As time passed, mobile phones became more affordable in the
Philippines. It is a common sight in the Philippines that even
people belonging to below middle class can still afford to buy
and own one. The existence of prepaid services also contributes
to this, because people have an affordable alternative to the
otherwise expensive postpaid options.

However, why is it that people in the Philippines prefer to use
SMS messaging rather than calls to communicate?

In the past, networks charge calls by the minute. Even if you
called for less than a minute say, 30 seconds, you would still
have to pay the charge that a full minute call would incur.
This, however, has been amended in present days so that networks
now charge by the second.

In the past, people have found out that if what they could say
in half a minute's time can be fit into one 160-character
message – Filipinos are known for using abbreviated words in
text messages— then they can save a significant amount if they
use SMS messaging. True enough, a Filipino saves seven pesos if
they use text messaging in this context rather than calling.
This practice still remains even if networks have made moves to
reduce their call charges.

Filipinos have found several uses of text messaging. They use
this to make friends, just to have fun. It is not unusual for
someone in the Philippines to receive a message from an unknown
number seeking a textmate. A Filipino teenager may use a
cellular phone to woo the girl that he likes if he does not have
enough nerve to confess personally. Text messaging is also used
by a Filipino as a medium to share sensitive information without
worrying about being heard by people he doesn't want to know
about.

Arranging and facilitating meet-ups between people has also
been made easier by SMS messaging. For example, a person can
cancel an arranged meet up even if the other party is already on
the way. This benefit is one of the best advantages of SMS
messaging over the traditional landline communication.

Because of the widespread use of SMS messaging, Philippine
mobile networks have introduced an unlimited messaging service.
Originally introduced by Sun Cellular, under these services a
mobile user can send an unlimited number of messages within a
timeframe by just registering using a certain amount. For
example, Smart charges 25 pesos for a person to register to its
Unli25 unlimited messaging service. In exchange a person can
send as much messages as he wants until his hands tire, or his
battery dies.


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