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Texting, Cell Phones Play Big Role in Romance

Some 40% of adult texters (age 18-55) who are in a relationship or dating believe that text messaging plays a significant or very significant role in their relationships, and nearly one-third say that their wireless phone has saved them from a bad date, according to research from AT&T.

The survey, which was conducted to gain insight into how text messaging is being used in the modern dating scene,  found that 68% of texters admitted to sending a love note via text messaging, 67% have used text messaging to flirt, and 28% text at least three times a day with their spouse or significant other.

In addition, 52% of texters said messages to the effect of “thinking of you” are the most common text types received from a date or spouse.

1ST D8 CANT B L8

For those who are seeking a relationship, the study also found that text messaging provides an easier approach to making an initial love connection:

• 34% of texters in a relationship or dating agreed they would be more comfortable on a first date if they received a text message beforehand.
• 26% agreed that someone would be more likely to accept a first date with them if they have exchanged text messages first.
• 58% admitted they have at least occasionally shown a friend a text message from a suitor to get his or her interpretation.
• 38% percent admitted that their wireless phone has saved them from an uncomfortable dating situation.
• One-quarter of dating texters have used text messaging to update their friends or family on the progression of a blind date.

On the other hand, texting can have a downside too. AT&T found that communicating via text in romantic relationships can possibly create uncertainty and frustration if the recipient of the message waits too long to respond:

• 84% of texters believe that text messages can sometimes be misunderstood by a date or suitor.
• 24% said the biggest turnoff when texting with a date or a spouse is a slow response.
• 82% said they answer a text message from a date or romantic interest immediately or as quickly as possible.

Interestingly, one-third of texters who are in a relationship or dating indicated they would get upset if a date/spouse responded to a wireless call while on a date, however, 44% of dating texters admitted to answering their wireless phone in the midst of great dinner conversation, and 58% have had their date/spouse answer their phone.

It’s OVR, We Need a Bre8k

In a possible reaffirmation of the importance of face-to-face communication for some types of bad news, only five percent of texters have broken up with someone using a text message and six percent have been broken up with via texting.

Younger Adults Text More

Demographic information points to the fact that texting plays a greater role in younger adults’ relationships, and reveals differences in dating and communication disclosure:

• 37% of respondents age 18-35 said they text at least three times a day with their significant other compared with 22% of those age 36-55.
• 74% of those age 18-35 have flirted via text messaging compared with 60% of those age 36-55.
• 26% of those age 18-35 admitted to texting more than one person at a time to invite them on a date or for other romantic reasons, but only 7% of those who are 36-55 have done the same.
• 30% of respondents age 18-35 have texted friends and family to update them on a blind date, compared with 19% of respondents who are 36-55.

“People have discovered that there are moments when just the right text, sent at just the right time, can go a long way to keeping romance alive,” said Alecia Bridgwater, director of Messaging for AT&T’s wireless unit. ”

Among the most common SMS expressions of affection:

• I LUV U
• MISS U
• THINKIN BOUT U
• DINNER 2NITE?
• HEY BEAUTIFUL
• LETS HANG
• UR CUTE
• XOXO
• MUAH!

About the survey: AT&T’s 2008 text dating survey was conducted by Synovate via an online consumer opinion panel of 1,000 adults age 18-55 in May 2008.

Do you have GMail or GChat?  Do you have a mobile phone on a major US wireless carrier?

You may be in luck, then.  The chat-to-SMS functionality that was rolled out a couple weeks ago, then hastily retracted, has been debuted on GMail and is available to most users.

It’s yet another Labs feature, the experimental feature area of GMail that has been getting regular updates over the last several months. This feature introduces yet another way you can be tethered to those you correspond with electronically.

Quick testing here at Mashable shows that most major carriers are supported, but for oddballs like me on regional networks like MetroPCS are not serviced by the new capability, and users who message those on unsupported networks will be greeted with the message indicating as such.

To activate the service, simply scroll down under the Settings >> Labs link until you see “Text Messaging (SMS) in Chat” and select Enable and Save Changes. To actually send a message, when you click on the “search, add or invite” blank in GMail, on the pop-up menu will be an option to “Send SMS.”  You’ll be prompted to enter their mobile number, which will then send all chats to their phone.

Other than the minor network incompatibilities, it seems like one of the most convenient ways to annoy the crap out of your friends from Google yet!

—Related Articles at Mashable | All That’s New on the Web:Three New Ways to Play With Gmail LabelsGMail Phasing In IMAPGmail Mobile Gets an UpdateBe Careful if You Access Gmail Through a Public HotspotNew GMail Features Show Up In Some AccountsGmail Storage Is Now 6 GigabytesGmail Mobile Version 1.5 Not Lookin’ So Good

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