WHZUP? New two-way wirelelss language emerges
Posted on March 19, 2001

Your high school English teacher is probably cringing as you hold that text-messaging wireless phone in your hand.

Sure, it's neat and useful and has lots of functions. But the language!

For example: Feeling frisky and want to send your loved one a note over your two-way text messaging service? Make that tiny screen sizzle with these shortcuts:
ILY: I love you
Ill W8 4 U 4EVR: I'll wait for you forever
ILY MR NW THN WN Y STRTD 2 RD THS MSG: I love you more now than when you started to read this message

According to AT&T Wireless spokesman Jeremy Pemble, this service takes on a whole new meaning with a developing wire-less shorthand language that updates the coy messages of people in love.

"AT&T Wireless 2-Way Text Messaging capable phones, like our popular Nokia 8260, are proving that you don't need to talk to have a conversation," Pemble said.

Remember that when you say:
WHZUP: What's up?
NM: Not much
CYA: See you
JK: Just kidding
TTYL: Talk to you later

And it all started with that silly :) on your e-mails, didn't it?

What are you willing to give to the Web?: Consumers are more comfortable providing personal financial information, such as income or credit card numbers, online than over the telephone, according the Online Reality Check national survey by Market Facts Interactive in Arlington Heights. The online division is part of Market Facts Inc., which has been conducting market research since 1946.

Nearly 57 percent of respondents say they are comfortable or somewhat comfortable providing credit card information on the Internet versus 43 percent by telephone. The survey is the first in a series of studies to provide snapshots of consumer opinions regarding the Internet. The survey analyzes 1,823 respondents.

Bits and Bytes: Prospect Heights-based Household International, the 123-year-old consumer lender, partnered with Massachusetts-based Verilytics to launch YourCreditCounts.com, a consumer portal that combines education, e-commerce and customized news and services ... Oak Brook-based Who2Trust.com is an online directory that offers subscribing businesses a chance to extend their reach in the community by listing customer referrals ... Prospect Heights-based Amerihall.com says it cuts expenses for individual real estate agents by allowing them to work at home and not pay up to 50 percent of their commissions to a real estate franchise agency.

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