Text messaging has become the fastest, easiest and most efficient means for people to communicate. Below are some recent statistics that show how popular text messaging has become.

Nearly half (47%) of US teens say their social life would end or be worsened without their cell phone, and nearly six in 10 (57%) credit their mobile device with improving their life, according to a national survey from CTIA and Harris Interactive.

The study also confirmed that texting is replacing talking among teens. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month.

13-44 year old consumers use text messaging more often than voice. On average 97% of text messages are read.

95% of consumers keep their cell phone with them all day.

  Three billion active users of SMS text messaging throughout the world.   
  SMS texting is the most widely used data application on the planet.

  The active user base of SMS is three times the total number of personal
  computers - desktops, laptops and netbooks all put together.

  SMS text messaging is used by over twice the number of people who use
  the internet. Even if we allow for all internet use, PC based and mobile
  phone based and all the access at internet cafes and university campuses and libraries etc, the total internet user base is 1.4 billion.

The global user base of SMS shot past email total user base seven years ago and today there are 2.5 times as many people on the planet who send messages using their phones, than send messages via the email system. Total email user base is 1.3 billion.

SMS text messaging is used by over four times more people using Instant Messaging (which is at about 700 million, worldwide). Individual social networking sites, like MySpace, Facebook, etc. totally pale in comparison. Facebook has about 150 million users.

How about some specific reasons to use text messaging for your venue?

• It empowers your fans to discreetly and instantly report stadium issues directly to your command center
• Works when voice doesn't (loud, crowded bandwidth)
• Thousands of "Eyes" become part of your security team
• Acts as a deterrent of unruly conduct when fans know other fans
  are watching and have a way to report them discreetly & quickly

It can be used for a variety of Incidents:

• Preventing altercations from escalating
• Reporting of emergency medical situations
• Housekeeping issues (broken seats, spills, etc.)
• Parking lot monitoring (tailgating pre & post game)

So with just about all your patrons carrying, using their cell phones and texting in your venue, shouldn't you provide them with texting as a means to communicate with your administrative staff?