It's how Britney dumped K-Fed, it saved a South Carolina girl's life, and according to Gartner research, 936 billion were sent in 2005.
What is this multi-functional media?
It's the text message.
On the UNH campus, text messaging has become a part of every day life for many students, and while they say they could live without it, they would rather not.
Text messaging, a common communication device in Europe for almost 10 years, has really caught on in America over the last three years and many believe this little word world is only going to get bigger.
Katie Park, 19, said she can remember when she was a senior at a New York high school and text messaging first became popular. Now she uses it daily.
"I definitely text a lot," said Park, now a UNH sophomore. "Probably four or five times a day. It's just easier to communicate with."
Another sophomore, Sarah Evans, just got into text messaging, adding it to her new Cingular phone only two months ago.
"It's easier than calling," she said. "And I don't use up all my minutes."
Aaron Nersesian has been working for Sprint in Portsmouth for eight years now and saw a boom in text purchases about two years ago.
"Now probably 25 to 30 percent of people who buy cell phone plans add a text messaging plan too," said Nersesian, who isn't one of them. "It's a silent way to communicate."
In September, a young woman kidnapped by a sex offender in the woods of South Carolina got a hold of the man's cell phone and was able to use a text message to lead police to her whereabouts, which ultimately saved her life.
While text messaging isn't always a literal "life saver," many are grateful for its convenience, whether in their purse or on their hip. With a few taps on the small keypad of a cell phone, information can be sent in the amount of time it would take to get someone's voicemail.
Maurice Hill, assistant manager of Portsmouth's Cingular store, said he and his wife text message daily to coordinate schedules.
"If she wants me to pick up the girls she can just send me a text while we are both at work," he said. "Like any other technology, it can help people out in that way."
Hill also believes text messaging can be great in an argument.
"Fights are good on text because you don't have to hear the other person's voice," he laughed. "You can't really get louder on a text."
Text messaging is also popular among those who don't like talking on the phone. Deb Newman, a graduate student, likes the ability to be able to stay in touch with friends without using her voice.
"If I want to be a nice friend but I'm too lazy to call, I can still text them and say 'Have a nice day,'" she said. "It creates a way to stay in touch with more people."
Tyler Wentworth, a junior, sends about 100 texts a month and enjoys the quick conversations.
"Sometimes you really don't want to call people right back, so you can just text them instead," he said. "And it's easier to use in quiet places, like work."
Text messaging, like any other form of communication that isn't done in person, can also help break barrier, said Sheila McNamee, a communication professor at UNH.
"People can say things they wouldn't be able to say face to face if they are shy or nervous," she said.
But this quick and easy way to talk may start to take over and eliminate more personal kinds of communication, some say. Andrew Smeltz, a senior, can't remember the last time he sent a text and he would like to keep it that way.
"I refuse to send them because it's a waste of time," he said. "Phone calls are just as good; people appreciate phone calls."
In November, it was reported that Britney Spears sent Kevin Federline details of their divorce via text message. Park, who likes to text, still believes that things like divorce need to be talked about, not read in quick, sometimes abbreviated text.
"Getting dumped in any other way than in person, and some exceptions by phone, is just unacceptable," she said. "Even my boyfriend will say some personal things on text and I'll tell him he should be saying these things to me."
Wentworth says it can be the most frustrating when another person you are with is more focused on their phone than on the conversation right in front of them.
"It's annoying if you are talking to someone and they are constantly just texting," he said.
Many text fiends don't use proper grammar or even complete sentences in order to fit a lot of information on a little screen. McNamee believes these little messages can definitely be misunderstood.
"Texts are so quick and easy some people don't think before they send them," she said. "A message sent with one intent can be interpreted in a different way."
When email and the internet first came out, many considered it a mindless use of time, now Hill believes text messaging can be grouped into that same category.
"It's time wasted; that's how I look at it," said Hill, whose Cingular co-workers turn to texting when they have a free minute. "You come in here and watch us; we could probably be doing something else. It's making people lazy."
Verizon has seen a 60 percent increase in sent text messages from 2005 to 2006 and while there still aren't many statistics on the new craze, a look around campus can confirm its popularity. In the classroom, the dining hall, or even on the snow covered sidewalks, there are many eyes and thumbs glued to cell phones.
"I see it in my classrooms all the time, but I would hesitate to make this an evil force," said McNamee. "It's great to have more technology to augment our typical ways of communication. It can only become evil when it's used exclusively."
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