First text message ever - sent 20 years ago today - GoFuckYourself.com

SilentKnight · 12-03-2012, 08:13 PM

CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 9:19PM EST

Exactly 20 years ago, a young British engineer named Neil Papworth sent the world?s first text message from a computer to his boss?s cellphone.

It read: ?Merry Christmas? and revolutionized the way we communicate.

Today, an estimated 2,500 text messages are sent every second in Canada alone. As bulky mobile phones of the 1990s evolved into multi-tasking smartphones, text messaging has become part of our daily interactions.

But when Papworth sent that Christmas greeting on Dec. 3, 1992, he never imagined he?d make history.

?For me, I was doing a day?s work and I just thought: ?OK, if this thing works, what am I doing tomorrow??? Papworth, who now lives in Montreal, told CTV News.

He was 22 years old at the time of the inaugural text, working as a software engineer for the British company Vodafone to improve pager and cellphone messaging systems at a time when few people even carried cellphones.

Papworth typed out ?Merry Christmas? on an office computer and sent it to his boss?s cellphone ? a clunky piece of technology by today?s standards.

?The person I sent it to -- Richard Jarvis -- he was at a Vodaphone Christmas party and what else are you going to send to someone at a Christmas party?" Papworth said.

?I used to talk to my friends about what I do, and they?re like: ?Text what?? No one had a mobile phone back then,? he said.

Of course, that all changed with rapid improvements in technology and the increased affordability of cellphones.

A recent World Bank study estimated that about three quarters of the world?s population now has access to a cellphone. Trillions of text messages are sent around the globe every day.

Texting now dominates the way young people, especially teenagers, communicate. A U.S. Pew Internet study recently found that about 63 per cent of teens text on a daily basis, with some sending as many as 100 text messages per day.

However, one expert says texting may soon become a thing of the past, as more people turn to instant-messaging and voice-messaging apps on their smartphones.

?Some people say text messaging has passed its peak,? Fletcher Lu, a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, told CTV News Channel Monday.

For Papworth, the ubiquity of texting is still somewhat baffling, even after all these years.

?I think, where do people get the time to send them?I mean, I send 10 or 15 a week.?

Papworth said he?s never sent any texts he regrets, but he does wish he could have texted one important message years ago.

?One of the ones that I wanted to send was to my wife -- I wanted to propose to her,? he said.

?But I realized she didn't have a phone.?

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/man-w...rity-1.1064598

Aidoru · 12-03-2012, 08:26 PM

Glad it wasn't "where u at?"

lucas131 · 12-03-2012, 08:27 PM

20 years only? looks like 50 to me ...

SilentKnight · 12-03-2012, 08:38 PM

Kids these days watch movies made 20 years ago and say, "Why didn't the guy just use his cell to call for

?

lucas131 · 12-03-2012, 08:40 PM

oh yeah like kojak always running to the nearest phone boot

John-ACWM · 12-04-2012, 08:41 AM

Interesting info.

bronco67 · 12-04-2012, 08:45 AM

Imagine reading this article, then going outside for a walk. A teenager is sending a text to her BFF while driving, and she drives up on the sidewalk and runs you over, mashing your skull into a jelly. You had just read about something created 20 years ago today, then you get killed by it on the same day.

lucas131 · 12-04-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco67

Imagine reading this article, then going outside for a walk. A teenager is sending a text to her BFF while driving, and she drives up on the sidewalk and runs you over, mashing your skull into a jelly. You had just read about something created 20 years ago today, then you get killed by it on the same day.

wooow man i want smoke it too ...

woj · 12-04-2012, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucas131

wooow man i want smoke it too ...

AllAboutCams · 12-04-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

2,500 text messages are sent every second

does not sound a lot

michael.kickass · 12-04-2012, 09:26 AM

I can't believe it's been 20 years already.

Sharky · 12-04-2012, 09:32 AM

I met him in Montreal at the QwebecExpo a few years back, 2008 I think. Nice guy, pretty shy and still working for the same company.

sperbonzo · 12-04-2012, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronco67

Imagine reading this article, then going outside for a walk. A teenager is sending a text to her BFF while driving, and she drives up on the sidewalk and runs you over, mashing your skull into a jelly. You had just read about something created 20 years ago today, then you get killed by it on the same day.

96ukssob · 12-04-2012, 09:41 AM

pretty crazy how much texting has taken off in the past few years.

back in 2001, I had this texting/web only device. had a mini keyboard and you could send messages and connect to AIM. i thought it was stupid and dropped it after 2 months.

seeandsee · 12-04-2012, 09:51 AM

sms fucking rules!

mineistaken · 12-04-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossku69

pretty crazy how much texting has taken off in the past few years.

back in 2001, I had this texting/web only device. had a mini keyboard and you could send messages and connect to AIM. i thought it was stupid and dropped it after 2 months.

America did not know sms for a long time, it was huge in the world at one time, but in US they did not know what it was.
I was reading some article where it was written that American Idol or similar contest introduced sms texting to US public (they had to vote via text or something)

grzepa · 12-04-2012, 02:53 PM

i heard that the original msg was "i like poo"

SilentKnight · 12-04-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grzepa

i heard that the original msg was "i like poo"

More like "I can't afford to text".

MaDalton · 12-04-2012, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mineistaken

America did not know sms for a long time, it was huge in the world at one time, but in US they did not know what it was.
I was reading some article where it was written that American Idol or similar contest introduced sms texting to US public (they had to vote via text or something)

i had to teach someone from Canada SMS when i was in Miami 2004

Nicky · 12-04-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllAboutCams

does not sound a lot

That was in Canada alone though

Bat_Man · 12-07-2012, 11:32 PM

I think i sent my first sms unintentionally :p

12-03-2012, 08:13 PM	#1
SilentKnight Megan Fox's fluffer Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: shooting pool in Elysium Posts: 24,818	First text message ever - sent 20 years ago today CTVNews.ca Staff Published Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 9:19PM EST Exactly 20 years ago, a young British engineer named Neil Papworth sent the world?s first text message from a computer to his boss?s cellphone. It read: ?Merry Christmas? and revolutionized the way we communicate. Today, an estimated 2,500 text messages are sent every second in Canada alone. As bulky mobile phones of the 1990s evolved into multi-tasking smartphones, text messaging has become part of our daily interactions. But when Papworth sent that Christmas greeting on Dec. 3, 1992, he never imagined he?d make history. ?For me, I was doing a day?s work and I just thought: ?OK, if this thing works, what am I doing tomorrow??? Papworth, who now lives in Montreal, told CTV News. He was 22 years old at the time of the inaugural text, working as a software engineer for the British company Vodafone to improve pager and cellphone messaging systems at a time when few people even carried cellphones. Papworth typed out ?Merry Christmas? on an office computer and sent it to his boss?s cellphone ? a clunky piece of technology by today?s standards. ?The person I sent it to -- Richard Jarvis -- he was at a Vodaphone Christmas party and what else are you going to send to someone at a Christmas party?" Papworth said. ?I used to talk to my friends about what I do, and they?re like: ?Text what?? No one had a mobile phone back then,? he said. Of course, that all changed with rapid improvements in technology and the increased affordability of cellphones. A recent World Bank study estimated that about three quarters of the world?s population now has access to a cellphone. Trillions of text messages are sent around the globe every day. Texting now dominates the way young people, especially teenagers, communicate. A U.S. Pew Internet study recently found that about 63 per cent of teens text on a daily basis, with some sending as many as 100 text messages per day. However, one expert says texting may soon become a thing of the past, as more people turn to instant-messaging and voice-messaging apps on their smartphones. ?Some people say text messaging has passed its peak,? Fletcher Lu, a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, told CTV News Channel Monday. For Papworth, the ubiquity of texting is still somewhat baffling, even after all these years. ?I think, where do people get the time to send them?I mean, I send 10 or 15 a week.? Papworth said he?s never sent any texts he regrets, but he does wish he could have texted one important message years ago. ?One of the ones that I wanted to send was to my wife -- I wanted to propose to her,? he said. ?But I realized she didn't have a phone.? http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/man-w...rity-1.1064598

12-03-2012, 08:26 PM	#2
Aidoru Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 655	Glad it wasn't "where u at?" __________________ Gravurecash - 50% Lifetime RevShare on all signups and rebills, 5% Webmaster Referral

12-04-2012, 08:41 AM	#6
John-ACWM Work Work Work Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: EU Posts: 20,060	Interesting info. __________________ Video Chat Forum

12-04-2012, 08:45 AM	#7
bronco67 Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 29,035	Imagine reading this article, then going outside for a walk. A teenager is sending a text to her BFF while driving, and she drives up on the sidewalk and runs you over, mashing your skull into a jelly. You had just read about something created 20 years ago today, then you get killed by it on the same day. __________________

12-04-2012, 09:26 AM	#11
michael.kickass Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,039	I can't believe it's been 20 years already. __________________ NICERATIOS - $30 PPS - 50% Rev Share - 5% WM Referral - High Converting Sites! Any questions about your NICERATIOS account? Vanessa will take care of you: [email protected] Looking to expand your business in general, maybe sell your sites? Contact me: [email protected]

12-03-2012, 08:27 PM	#3
lucas131 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,475	20 years only? looks like 50 to me ...

12-03-2012, 08:38 PM	#4
SilentKnight Megan Fox's fluffer Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: shooting pool in Elysium Posts: 24,818	Kids these days watch movies made 20 years ago and say, "Why didn't the guy just use his cell to call for ?

12-03-2012, 08:40 PM	#5
lucas131 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,475	oh yeah like kojak always running to the nearest phone boot

12-04-2012, 09:32 AM	#12
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	I met him in Montreal at the QwebecExpo a few years back, 2008 I think. Nice guy, pretty shy and still working for the same company. __________________ Sharky

12-04-2012, 09:41 AM	#14
96ukssob So Fucking Banananananas Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: If I was in your ass you'd know it Posts: 12,991	pretty crazy how much texting has taken off in the past few years. back in 2001, I had this texting/web only device. had a mini keyboard and you could send messages and connect to AIM. i thought it was stupid and dropped it after 2 months. __________________ Email: Clicky on Me

12-04-2012, 09:51 AM	#15
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	sms fucking rules! __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here

12-04-2012, 02:53 PM	#17
grzepa Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,195	i heard that the original msg was "i like poo" __________________ Like X-ART !!

12-07-2012, 11:32 PM	#21
Bat_Man Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 421	I think i sent my first sms unintentionally :p __________________ Content lock your adult sites with BLAM ADS