USA Today recently had an article on whether Americans preferred to text or use e-mail as a form of communication. The article cites unnamed surveys, and conducted their own study, that say younger people (those under 30) prefer texting, while older people prefer e-mail as their method of communication.

The similarities: both involve typing letters, numbers, and symbols from a keyboard onto an electronic screen to be sent to the screen of someone else. Both require very little energy use or cost to the server in terms of data transfer. Both can be done quickly, but only if you don’t lose the connection (which happens a lot, especially with T-mobile).

So what makes them different? E-mail is considered more formal, because one is taking the time to actually write out a message (when was the last time someone send out an e-mail that just said ‘k’ or ‘lol’ or ‘cool’?), whereas texting can be done very quickly and on the go. Also, e-mail requires one to be logged into an internet server somewhere. So even if you’re travelling and you can get internet service through your phone, you’ll have to log-in to do it-making the process slower, and potentially putting yourself at risk for phishers to hack in if your phone’s internet connection is unsecure for any reason.

That said, e-mail allows individuals to send more information than texts usually can, such as links to Youtube videos and better quality photos. It’s much easier to send word documents, excel spreadsheets, and power points to yourself or others via e-mail, (texting it is impossible at this point unless you have an iPad, and even then). Plus, if I have to wait to be on the internet to use e-mail, that’s one less opportunity to send a message while I drive (promoting safe driving).

Finally, I often am in contact with people on a professional level. I feel very uncomfortable sending out texts to those people, especially if I don’t know the person well. I’ve never been uncomfortable sending out an e-mail, even to unfamiliar people. For that reason, even more-so than the other two, I personally prefer e-mailing people as to texting.

What do you think? Do you prefer texting to e-mail? Share your thoughts on this subject.

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Technorati Tags: email vs. text messaging preferences, USA Today Survey on email vs. texting

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In this episode of PRobecast, Renatta Siewert and Justin Martell join me in talking about how Abercrombie & Fitch has asked for the Jersey Shore cast to stop wearing the brand on TV, Google bidding to buy Motorola and the new Amazon iPhone application for college students.

Abercrombie to ‘Jersey Shore’: Ditch our brand – Abercrombie and Fitch has sent an offer to the cast of the Jersey Shore offering them compensation for the halt of them wearing the brand on television. A&F is concerned that by the cast wearing their brand they are “distressing” fans of their brand. What do you think of Abercrombie’s offer? Is the Jersey Shore really hurting its brand?

Google Goes Soup-To-Nuts On Android With Bid For Motorola – Google put in a bid to buy Motorola for 12.5 billion dollars – a move that signals how moving into the Android market (by owning their hardware) is going to be an important strategy in the future. If the deal goes through, Apple will definitely have some big competition. Will Google every one-up Apple?

Amazon Launches New iPhone App for College Students – Amazon has launched an application for iPhones targeting college students. The app lets students do price checks on things they need including, textbooks, electronics, etc. It also allows them to list items they no longer use on their “trade in” feature. Rather than getting cash back, students will receive Amazon gift cards for items sold. Do you think this is a helpful application for college students?

Now it’s time for the PRobecast PR Power Ranking – which is when we go around the room and pick the story that we think ranks the highest PR-wise – meaning any aspects of PR could be the reasoning behind the pick. Is it the story itself, good data that was used, what’s getting the most pickup, was it a good PR move the company made, etc.

This is it was a surprising twist, both Renatta and Justin voted for A&F. Noting that the brand doesn’t openly advertise, this is a big PR stunt for coverage and is a bold move for the company considering the popularity of Jersey Shore. This PR stunt has also received a lot of coverage and got everyone talking about the brand.

Who do you think should have won?

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Technorati Tags: A&F making an offer to the Situation, Abercrombie and Fitch and Jersey Shore, Amazon's app for college students, Google Bidding for Motorola

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In this episode of PRobecast, Renatta Siewert, Liz O’Donnell and Justin Martell join me in talking about how Budweiser is saying now product containing alcohol can use the work Bud in their name, FBI putting out a Child ID application, Comcast offering Internet services to low-income families and paperless receipts gaining popularity.

Budweiser pulling an Apple – Budweiser is pulling an Apple by saying no other alcoholic beverage can have the word “Bud” in it. The company recently sent a cease and desist letter to Budini, an Argentinean wine maker. Rather paying for lawyers in a trademark dispute, they changed their name to Bodini. Budini actually stood for Based Upon Dreams of Individuals, Not Institutions. They are donating the money that would have gone to lawyers in the dispute to benefit the Dominio del Plata Scholarship Foundation, a foundation that provides educational and recreational opportunities to the children of Bodini’s employees. At least some companies have morals.

FBI and iTunes release the ‘Child ID’ app – An application is now available for iPhones that allows parents to store information on their children if anything, God forbid, were to happen to them. The applications stores pictures, information on their height, weight, etc. – all which can be quickly sent to authorities in the case of an emergency. Nothing like being constantly paranoid, however with the recent stories of missing children, this is a good application to download.

Comcast offers Internet access for low-income families – Comcast is now offering a $9.95/month service to low income families through a program called Internet Essentials. Eligible families will be able to have Internet connection at a low price, be able to buy a more affordable netbook and have free Internet training classes. While this all seems like Comcast is opening its heart to those less fortunate, this is actually an agreement made through its Comcast-NBC merger. Let’s see how generous they are in 3 years when the terms expire.

Paperless Receipts – More and more major retailers are sending customers out of the store without their receipts. Why? Because they are being sent electronically. While Apple has been doing this since 2005, the use of mobile and the Web for purchasing has started to change the way we shop – and the things we need. What do you think of paperless receipts?

Now it’s time for the PRobecast PR Power Ranking – which is when we go around the room and pick the story that we think ranks the highest PR-wise – meaning any aspects of PR could be the reasoning behind the pick. Is it the story itself, good data that was used, what’s getting the most pickup, was it a good PR move the company made, etc.

We had a tie this week between the Child ID application and Bodini. Topazers, Liz and Renatta, both thought that the Child ID application should win this week’s ranking because it’s an application that is actually useful, and meaningful. They both said that with all the less important applications out there such as, Angry Birds, the application you can track if your friend is PMSing, and whatnot – this stands out from the pack as something that could help out a family and/or community when in need.

On the other hand, Justin and I both thought the Bodini article came on top. Rather than fighting with Budweiser, they just threw in the towel and decided to better themselves by donating the money they would have used in a lawsuit towards a good cause. This not only makes them look like the good guys, it also helps to spread the word about who they are as a company.

Who do you think should have won?

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Technorati Tags: Bodini, Budini, Budweiser's ceast and desist, Child ID app, Comcast, Comcast's Internet Essentials, electronic receipts, paperless receipts

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