The next time your Nokia starts beeping away, it might be Penn State letting you know classes are canceled and you're about to score a day of sleep.

PSUTXT is the latest service introduced by the Penn State Newswire to help the university reach students more efficiently with text messages containing news bulletins, emergency information and cancellations.

Annemarie Mountz, assistant director of public information for Internet Communications at Penn State, said the idea was inspired by today's reliance on cell phones.

"Text messaging has become a major part of communication," Mountz said. "So we figured that should be another tool in the toolbox to get information out as quickly as possible."

PSUTXT made its debut on July 19, and developers say it continues to gain momentum. More than 736 students, faculty and staff members are currently subscribed, and that number is expected to grow quickly.

Mountz said the service is free to join, although users may incur fees from their cell phone carriers.

Some students, though, admit they are not as reliant on text messages as their peers.

"I don't have a plan for text messages, but I do think this would save time from going all the way down there to class to see if it was canceled," Rob Holleran (freshman-premedicine) said.

PSUTXT can also send concert announcements and current sports scores. At the end of the Nittany Lions' win over Akron this past weekend, a message was quickly sent to subscribers providing the final score.

During the past weeks, notifications were sent about a venue change for the Bob Dylan concert, heightened security at the State College Airport, a hydraulic fluid spill on Shortlidge Road and the cancellation of Football Eve.

Bill Mahon, Penn State University spokesman, said PSUTXT is an example of the university's want to deliver information efficiently and effectively.

"We're still going to rely on TV, radio and newspapers, but the more ways we can communicate with people, the better for us when we're trying to get out important information," Mahon said.

Some students, like Tom MacDonald (freshman-education) agreed that reaching people via cell phone is the best route.

"It doesn't get much better than that," he said.

To sign up for PSUTXT, go to www.newswires.psu.edu.