Wzup u crz ppl! Did u know dat u don't hav to col ur frnds on ur fone nemore?

Say what?

Translation: What's up, you crazy people! Did you know that you don't have to call your friends on your phone anymore?

New technology seems to be exploding around us on a day-to-day basis. Not only can people communicate on cell phones and through AOL Instant Messenger, but text messages are now being sent from phone to phone, and even from computer to phone and vice versa.

According to a press release from Verizon Wireless, text messaging increased by 700 percent in 2002, and the growth continued throughout 2003.

New abbreviations of words and phrases are being created daily to save text messengers some time, and an entire language is being created by members of the younger generation, who, according to the press release, are the primary text message users.

The language in the first paragraph of this article has become so rampant among text message users that Verizon Wireless created its own dictionary, titled TXT ME(ssaging), which the company is now giving out in its stores.

The question is whether Penn State students are using text messaging. If so, how do they feel about their payment plans, and why do they feel messaging is so useful when it seems so time-consuming and complicated?

Allison Krupski (senior-English and public relations) said she uses text messaging a few times per week and that it is included in her cell phone plan, so she doesn't have to pay extra for the service.

"I use text messages when I have something quick to say that doesn't really require a lot of explanation or a whole phone call," Krupski said. "I also use text messages if I want to give a quick hello to someone and don't have a lot of time to talk."

Krupski said she does use abbreviations for words, because the phone provides limited characters and typing out messages takes time.

Kevin Labutta (junior-telecommunications) said he occasionally finds text messaging to be convenient but has to pay 10 cents per message, a peeve that many cell phone owners share.

"It drives me crazy that we have to pay for them, but if I'm in a loud place or have something quick to communicate, I use them," Labutta said.

James Iddenden (senior-psychology), a more frequent user of text messaging, said he uses the feature up to 10 times per week, when he's at a party or bar and it's too loud to talk.

Though it seems that many students find text messaging useful, some, like Jason Bender (senior-civil engineering), see it as more of a burden.

"I don't have text messaging available in my plan," Bender said. "People can send me text messages, but it costs me money and I can't reply. It's frustrating."