SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

CHANNEL BY TOPICS


QUICK LINKS




Real-time Texting: The Future of SMS?

Text Messaging Featured Article

Real-time Texting: The Future of SMS?

 
November 19, 2014

Share
Tweet
By Alisen Downey,
TMCnet Web Editor


Computers, once bulky and pixilated, have become sleek, compact and on the cutting edge of image display quality. Phones have transformed from heavy, tethered rotaries to lightweight mobile devices capable of so much more than simple phone calls. As technology forges ahead, the face of just about every device and service is changing—so why should text messaging be any exception?


Messaging apps have taken the smartphone world by storm. In the modern world, most people prefer the ease, directness, and discreteness of text messaging while on the go, in a meeting, at home, or just about anywhere. It’s less of an interruption than a phone call, allowing full conversations can be carried out simultaneous to other tasks. Many messaging apps have thrown new ideas into the texting pot, such as disappearing texts, texts with time limits, texts that are encrypted for added security, and so on.

Now, a new app is making waves, and is perhaps getting the most buzz to date of any messaging app available today. It’s called Beam, and it may be the precursor to the future of texting. What makes Beam so unique is that it shows you and your recipients typing in real time—meaning that as you type, the text is being revealed to the other person. The app, which is available for Android (News - Alert), includes other interesting features as well, such as allowing users to customize their backgrounds.

Image courtesy of BuzzFeed (click to enlarge)

In a way, real-time texting seems like a great idea. No more staring at those iMessage ellipses, waiting sometimes an agonizing length of time for someone to finally press Send. Beam keys into that sense of immediacy people crave in the digital age, particularly when it comes to texting. We want instant gratification in just about everything, and now it is available for SMS too.

There are, however, some drawbacks. What at first appears to be a very cool function quickly becomes a nightmare for anyone who likes to carefully type out texts and review them before sending. There are plenty of times when word choice is crucial, and Beam takes away the ability to edit beforehand. Users had better think very hard about what they want to say before they start typing with this app, because—for better or worse—it is an incredibly transparent form of communication.

The app has received a great deal of attention since its release to app stores, and as a result the app’s makers have temporarily suspended new sign-ups so that they can upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate more users. Clearly the interest is there, and there is no doubt that phone makers are also watching. While for now the feature is confined to an over-the-top app, could this feature be added to regular text messaging services in the future? Could this become the texting standard of the future? Only time will tell.  




Edited by Maurice Nagle
Text Messaging Homepage





Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy