Texting is sort of like Facebook, instant messaging and countless other trends. Either you get it or you don’t. And if you don’t, you’re more likely to be of a certain age – fortysomething, let’s say – than a teenager (or the parent of one).

But these trends have a way of breaking out of their youth-oriented enclaves, and texting is likely to infiltrate the culture beyond teens, twentysomethings and technologically adept early adopters. Which is why you would be better off knowing something about texting now, even if it’s not a practice you’re ready to embrace.

In its most popular form, text messaging (or texting) is the use of cell phones to send short messages (no more than 160 characters) from one phone to another. Typing is accomplished with the phone’s numbered keypad, using roughly the same process used to enter the names of your contacts.

(If that’s new to you, think about pulling out the manual for your mobile phone for instruction. Let’s just say it’s possible to type quickly on a keypad.) Text messaging is also called SMS, for short message service.

Though the popular image of texting is all about teenagers gossiping using texting slang – like “hw” (for “homework”) or “ttyl” (“for talk to you later”) – text messaging is now moving beyond the world of teens. Wells Fargo lets customers check account balances by text message. US Airways makes it possible to find out the departure time and gate of flights. And with Google SMS (sms.google.com) you can get weather reports, sports scores and local business listings via text message.

You think you’ll never text? Read about these services, and you may think otherwise.

• Jyngle (www.jyngle.com) lets you create groups of contacts, then send messages to people in those groups. Messages can be sent to mobile phones via the Web or a phone. Even if you don’t want to text on your own, your business, sports club or other organization can send out text messages to your text-addicted customers or members.

• With mobsaver (www.mobsaver.com), you can text a product number (such as an ISBN for books or UPC code for other products) then get a price for those products at eBay and Amazon. That would come in handy if you’re at a store, yet wondering what you can save by buying online. Just type in the product code, and seconds later, you’ll have a price.

• An increasing number of online services provide the option of adding or viewing information via text message. That’s the case with Gubb (www.gubb.net), a Web-based service that’s all about managing and sharing lists (like to-do lists). If you create Web-based lists with Gubb (for grocery shopping, business trips, calls to make), you can add items from your phone with a text message.

• ZAPtxt (www.zaptxt.com) will monitor Web sites based on keywords of your choice. You could choose to monitor a sports Web site for your team or a business site for a company; when new information appears about your keyword, you’re notified with a text message. As with a number of other services, you can also opt to receive alerts via e-mail or instant message.

– Text messaging is increasingly viewed as a way to galvanize political support, organize gatherings and otherwise spread messages. TextMarks lets you select a keyword (or TextMark) – for example, “COOL” for global warming. Then, when anyone text messages that word to the number 41411 (after seeing it, say, on a poster or T-shirt hyping the cause), the sender will receive a predetermined message of your choice.

– Cell-phone carriers now often make it possible to send a text message to a phone number via the Web. That’s handy if you’re online and want to send a message to a friend’s mobile phone.

Ready to start texting? Just be forewarned: Texting will probably cost you. You can buy a texting plan for your phone for a set monthly fee, or you can pay per message – typically around 15 cents per message.

JM END HOFFMAN

(Allan Hoffman wrote this article for The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. He can be contacted at netscan(at)allanhoffman.com.)

2007-11-21-TEXTING-SERVICES

AP-NY-11-21-07 1452EST