Talk, Text or Twitter? What's Your Preference?

On Dec. 3, 1992, a 22-year-old British engineer, Neil Papworth, sent the first-ever SMS -- Short Messaging Service -- according to ABC News Radio. Little did he know that his invention would change the world of communication - and the written English language - OMG Who'd hv thought, LOL.

Papworth's message, sent from his computer to a friend’s Orbitel 901 mobile phone read, “Merry Christmas.”

 That one little SMS became known as a text and to date billions of them have been sent aound the world. On its 20th anniversary, however, ABC News Radio reports that texting, or SMS, usage is declining worldwide and is likely to continue to do as more people buy smartphones and Twitter continues to grow in popularity, even for one on one conversations.

The strength of text, however, was witnessed recently in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy when a series of Public Service Announcements focused on preparedness, urging "Text first, Talk Second." Text safety shorthand developed by Safe America suggested that parents can initiate the drill by sending all their children the message ‘R U OK’ (7865). The person receiving the text message replies with the short ‘I M OK’(4665). The short texts can sometimes get through when phone lines can't because of busy circuits.

So what is your preferred method of communication, talk or text? Or, as ABC News Radio suggests, is text too on its way out for you?

Keep up with news by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.