Many of the abbreviated words and expressions used in text messaging are far from new, with a number of commonly used terms appearing in an abbreviations dictionary that was published in 1942. Similarly, the use of initial letters for whole words (n for "no", gf for "girlfriend", cmb "call me back") is not at all new. People have been initialising common phrases for ages. IOU is known from 1618. ... Read full entry

Apparently it's possible. Simon Usborne talks to eight people who live, and work, without a mobile phone. People become obsessed with looking at them and fiddling with them. It's all right if you're a teenager, but there's something pathetic about adults checking their mobiles all the time and texting. People get equally irritated by my failure to use one. If you're supposed to be meeting someone, they will ask for ... Read full entry

Mobile phones on planes are a recipe for air rage Things like text messaging and twittering are fine, but if you must make a voice call, whatever you do, please don't use the damn speaker phone function. Recently, I was horrified to discover that airlines will soon allow mid-air mobile phone use. I read a report that said, "At last, certain flights on Emirates Airways are allowing passengers to ... Read full entry

Graduates ‘sms’ in job l3tt3rs It could be I was wrong to defend Generation Y against allegations of being a bunch of slackers, if a recent SMH report, stating university graduates are using text-messaging-like language and grammar in cover letters for job applications, is anything to go by. Annabelle Puddy, the national head of recruiting for Accenture, said it was a particular problem among students who ... Read full entry