I use text messaging primarily at work (IT business). When there are server and/or business problems, I am paged automatically with specifics. Often I am paged with ad hoc informational stuff and by my assistant when I'm being summoned by busy muckity mucks. They either want a specific answer via text messaging or they want me to call them.

In turn, I send messages to folks all day long to ensure the issues are being addressed so I am ready to respond to the muckity mucks. "Please tell me when the last of the patches were applied to the servers in Minnesota and Wisconsin." When I'm in a meeting and think of something I need my assistant to do, I'll use text messaging to her email address with instructions. She replies and we get everything settled without me even having to leave the meeting. I guess those folks think I'm a muckity muck .

Some people prefer carrying around a notebook computer sending and receiving mail all day long but I find text messaging devices faster and more convenient. If I can figure out how to get my corporate instant messaging to work on this thing, I'll be very, very happy.

For my OWN use, I message friends on anything from dinner plans to what is on TV. The nice thing about messaging is it is less committal. You don't have to go through all of the salutations and conversation ends. No one has to dedicate a lot of time but if more in depth discussion is warranted one party can just call the other.