Texting... what do you use it for and how often?
By EnslinPorter
@EnslinPorter (1718)
Philippines
July 28, 2008 1:26pm CST
Due to the non-stop increase of commodities in the market here in the Philippines, the government is also persuading telecommunication companies that charges for texting / calls be reduced. My question is... "What are your purposes for texting? How often do you load your cellphone?" We do know that it comes in handy especially in business and times of need. But it all comes to this: "Is texting really one of the basic necessities?" If it is, then maybe reducing charges for it is helpful to the citizenry at this time of crisis. But if not, wouldn't it be better if the government just tried to target the true basic necessities on price reduction?
My answer to my question, I seldom text because all I get is quotes and I don't really get a conversation with it. I do, but only sometimes. I also admit that it comes in handy when I need to do transactions and receiving important messages such as announcements at school/work. Call my life not that exciting for not having an active social life with the cellphone but it's only because I'm not into it. :P I do appreciate the greetings of my friends. But I don't think a person must load his/her cellphone everyday for texting that do not instigate or contribute to any conversation at all. Also, I think the promos are already sufficient for this stuff since there's unlimited texting and more. Aren't people satisfied by it already?
What do you think? I would love to hear your opinions. Please feel free to post.=)
7 people like this
21 responses
@klaudine (3650)
• Indonesia
28 Jul 08
I rely on those text messages to send information to my buyer. I should give them information about numbers and it will be better sent with text message then calling. And yeah, of course texting is easier because in some place we just not able to do the call like the busy crowded place would be too noisy to make a call.
2 people like this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
Thank you for your response! Oh yes, never thought about that being convenient in a noisy area. :D
1 person likes this
@petiksmode (2983)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
i do a lot of txting i cant stand a day without a load, i register to unlimited txting...but like you i dont really do qoutes forwarding....i use it mostly in conversation all day...the 80pesos unlimited txting for 5 days whoa i really maximize it...
if there is a time that i forward qoutes my friends will be surprise they are thinking that i am bored and have nothing to do...and they are right i seldom do it..
2 people like this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
29 Jul 08
I send texts a lot, I send over 1000 texts a month all for personal reasons, not business. I send them in order to contact people. I prefer texts, because I can do it while doing something else and if the person is busy then I am not interrupting them, because they can get back to me when they are finished what they are doing. It is also a quicker form of communication the email etc. Also if the person is not at their phone at the time the message will be there when they are, unlike a phone call (I do not leave voice message as it costs many people to receive them).
1 person likes this
@kylie_quistis (1220)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
hmm, I don't used text often, I only used it for communicating with my friends and family and through it, I received news and announcements from my work. You see, I am not that fond with texting, can't tell all the the things that I wanted having a very limited space and all. Also, my thumb kinda hurts having texted a quite long conversation. 
So it was really rare for me to used it and if ever I used it, I used unlimited text, it was more cheaper and practical. Although, I prefer call or emails rather than texting, I am happy with the news that the text rate reduce now, it was more cheaper and it will save more money. But then, just like you said, there are more basic and much needed commodities in the market that are much better to have a price reduction. Wished it's not only price of texting and calls are reduced but also basic commodities that commonly used by all people.
So it was really rare for me to used it and if ever I used it, I used unlimited text, it was more cheaper and practical. Although, I prefer call or emails rather than texting, I am happy with the news that the text rate reduce now, it was more cheaper and it will save more money. But then, just like you said, there are more basic and much needed commodities in the market that are much better to have a price reduction. Wished it's not only price of texting and calls are reduced but also basic commodities that commonly used by all people. 1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response! :D
Yes, it's really a limited space. I find myself trying to abbreviate almost everything just to keep my message within a peso :P
@roanne05 (1290)
• Oman
29 Jul 08
i am working abroad and for me, my family has enough of the cellphone company promos to use for everyday texting. the filipinos not only not my family needs more than texting or communication. they need food and other basic necessities that are really high right now...instead of the government focusing on lowering the texting fee, why not the commodities??? they are just wasting their time for nothing...
1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response. :D
Yes, Filipino families need more than just lowering text fees. We all could use lowering prices of some other basic needs.
@ishralene09 (2260)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
I often use my phone to communicate with friends and employers. And most of the time I use it to communicate with my girlfriend. It's very convenient. That would be my reasons to use a cellphone, other than that I don't really have time to pass quotes or messages to just about everyone on my phonebook.
2 people like this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
28 Jul 08
Hi! Thank you very much for your response! :D
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6430)
• Canada
29 Jul 08
I use text messaging all of the time, for scheduling things with clients and to answer questions from students. It makes things easier, because I don't have to be available all of the time, and I can read what they have to say. Because I work with teenagers, they are more comfortable with texting as well.
I get billed at the end of the month. I'm not certain how much of it is text messaging and how much is phone calls, but we both use our phones a lot, so it is worth it.
1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for responding :D
It's a nice way to communicate with your students. I remember when I was in high school when the cellphone/texting era began to boom. And in college, it really came in handy to have communication with our professors for classes and OJT's.
@lossforredwords (3619)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hmmm well I think like what you said its better to focus more on the commodities that are necessity like the price of rice. Instead of pursuing this telecommunication site better do something with the increasing price and scarcity of food.
Texting is also important since it give us o much convenience but I think food is the most.
I do text sometimes but mostly calls cause I'm not good with the celphone keypad, pretty hard for me.
1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for responding. :D
Yes, you're right. It would be better if they pursued other commodities, especially food. "Pagkain sa Bawat La Mesa", I doubt if all households get to eat.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
29 Jul 08
i do not text so often. at times when i was in regular touch with some close friends, i used to text more. now its required when i am to reply to a test message taht is necessary. also i use it during some festivals to send good wishes.,
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thank you for your response. :D
Yup, it's nice way to send good wishes for all occasions. ;)
@rsa101 (40952)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
I think this is such a temporary solution to a much bigger and wider scope of economic problem we have. In fact, the telecoms company says this is just temporary for them and they will offer this for the next 90 days only. After that it would return back to its original pricing.
For me texting is the easiest and cheapest way of communicating to your loved ones. Seldome do I respond when I think its not important anymore. I think we should use it wisely these days as this is always a very difficult balance the budget and texting is part of the budget.
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response. :D
Quoting Erap and other personalities: "It is a band-aid solution"
@juliefaye (1214)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Owning a cellphone depends upon the lifestyle of a person. I have mine because I badly need it for my business and texting is cheaper than a call. There was a time that my daughter's teacher texted me to fetch her as she is running a fever at school. The .50 cents reduced amount of text as bragged by the present tenant of Malacañang is just a 90 days promo of the telecommunication company no more no less. I can see that cellfone is not your way of life and i can say it's good for you because you can spend the rest of your income to other important things.
Because of high cost of living in this country, we have to be wise in spending every centavo we earned much less sending only important text messages.
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response. :D
Yes, it truly depends on a person's lifestyle, not just mine. It's good to know that you benefit from texting. Take care! :)
@zeroflashx2 (2491)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Well, we were talking about this last night with my co-workers. It's a bit sad that there are indeed a lot of people who rejoiced when text messaging was brought down to P0.50 per message until October (correct me if I'm wrong ). Texting isn't a necessity. It's still more of a convenience for me. I haven't sent any text message from my phone for 2 months. 
I don't text that much. Even a P300 load for 2 months is way more than enough for me. I try to use Chikka for free texting as much as possible.
But I guess it really depends on people's use. Most may need it more than I do. It could be for business or sending out information to a bunch of people without having to call them one by one. Someone who has the ability has to step up and deal with the real problem why prices are going up. I hope someone sees it before the government starts to lose options.
). Texting isn't a necessity. It's still more of a convenience for me. I haven't sent any text message from my phone for 2 months. I don't text that much. Even a P300 load for 2 months is way more than enough for me. I try to use Chikka for free texting as much as possible.
But I guess it really depends on people's use. Most may need it more than I do. It could be for business or sending out information to a bunch of people without having to call them one by one. Someone who has the ability has to step up and deal with the real problem why prices are going up. I hope someone sees it before the government starts to lose options. 1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Thanks for responding! :D
Yes, I hope someone gets down with it and really pinpoint the real cause(s) of what's happening in our country today. I don't know if it's just me but I feel that life's a lot better when I was young, around early 1990's under Ramos's administration. Was it because I was still young and was still innocent? Or can children even feel current events unconsciously?
1 person likes this
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
I send text messages at least 10 times everyday. It's my preferred medium of communication followed by chatting online and talking on the phone. Not only is it convenient, it's also very affordable. It's a little bit impersonal, but I don't really mind. If you send out successive text messages to the same person then it's very easy to make good conversation. :)
1 person likes this
@joliefille (3690)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
I use texting for catching up with my friends. It's proven to be very useful whenever we tried to meet up in a huge mall. We'd be like "san na u?", "Ikaw?", "Andito ako Mega A sa may Dermclinic." Those are just samples. I miss those times. But now that I'm in a different country, I seem to spend a lot on calls more than texting. My friends back home cannot reply to me so I just try to call them. I usually set aside 100 ringgit every month for a cellphone load. Sometimes it's more than enough for a month.
Those are just samples. I miss those times. But now that I'm in a different country, I seem to spend a lot on calls more than texting. My friends back home cannot reply to me so I just try to call them. I usually set aside 100 ringgit every month for a cellphone load. Sometimes it's more than enough for a month. 1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for responding. :D
Hahaha, yes, it's really helpful. My friends and I went to Megamall one time. Later on, we found out that the half of the group was missing. "San n kau?" I miss those times too. :D
@jaypeemanuel (1005)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
My friends usually get annoyed with me for not responding to their text messages. It is because i find text sending too vulgar. I only send messages that are way far so important and there are only four regular recipients of my messages, my wife, my mom, my brother and my boss, the rest, only for occasions.
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response! :D
Same with me, I think my friends is close to giving me a load because I really seldom load. They always ask why I don't load. Just not my thing.
@CharRay7 (1549)
• United States
29 Jul 08
Hi and Welcome to MyLot!!!
I have text messaging on my cell phone but don't use it that much. I pay for each individual text message and I've checked on the price for unlimited and then checked my usage and it would cost more for the unlimited so I don't have it.
I don't subscribe to any service that sends text messages so I don't have to worry about that. I do sometimes text my hubby when he is at work. I know he is usually busy working and I don't want to disturb him for some nonsense so I'll text him.
[i]Happy MyLotting,
Char[/i]
[i]Happy MyLotting,
Char[/i]
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi Char! Thanks for the response and thank you especially for the welcome! :D
When there are days that I only need to load for a single purpose, I also check if my usage for sending individual text messages would cost less than unlimited texting and other promos.
Thanks again!
Enslin :)
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13919)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
i rarely text at all. though i have a cellphone. i rarely reply cause most of the text are not important. i just reply when it is important.
@jessej9 (394)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi, I am usually using the unlimited services for text for a reason to text my friend. I make it a point that if I am not unlimited, I do have atleast enough load. Why? Because I don't know, we just love to text each other.
But one other reason that texting is useful and helpful to me is that because I can text my schoolmates regarding school stuff. It is really helpful in terms of meeting up people to organize group work.
Another help is it can help me communicate to people that I must text consistently, so there.
1 person likes this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for your response. :D
Yes, kudos to cellphones for purposes like that.
@bookworms (351)
• Pasig, Philippines
29 Jul 08
well i use it for communication with friends, family, ETC....
and i kinda send 30 + messages per day (MAX)
and receive like 30 ~ 50
^_^ HAPPY TXTING ^_^
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for responding. :D
Wow, that many messages. I see that you get to utilize their services to the fullest. I think you're also able to get your money's worth with it. Happy texting to you now especially that its price went down. ;D
@danrunsfast614 (1396)
• United States
29 Jul 08
I use it alot. it lets me ask specific questions without a conversation getting in the way of what I need. It is specific and more efficient than a conversation sometimes. I will probably send maybe 20-30 a day to various people.
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
31 Jul 08
Hi! Thanks for responding!
It's nice that texting is very useful for you. :)
