Cell Phones, Mobile, SMS, Technology
Apr 2, 2008
Steve Petersen
View Comments

Text Message Shopping

I must admit that texting is not my favorite activity.  It's something that I rarely do.  In fact, when friends send me text messages that require a response, I typically call them back hoping that the they get the tacit hint.  However, Amazon may change my druthers.

The Associated Press reports today about Amazon's text message shopping feature, which launched late yesterday.  Now people can send a text to 262966 (which spells "Amazon" on the telephone keypad) with the description, UPC, or ISBN of an item.  Amazon will see if it has the item and send back two items at a time.  The texter can request more items or buy the item by texting back.

That's pretty spiffy and useful.  Who would've thought that text messaging would serve as a viable comparison shopping tool?  Since I like to use Amazon, this might coax me to text more. 

However, one thing that I do have to consider is the occasional impulse buy.  Do I really need that toothbrush shaped Pez dispenser?

  • Mary Specht

    How many people can browse the web on their phones, via a decent-sized screen? It seems like a lot. This text message process seems cumbersome–shouldn’t Amazon really focus on their mobile site experience?

  • Mary Specht

    How many people can browse the web on their phones, via a decent-sized screen? It seems like a lot. This text message process seems cumbersome–shouldn’t Amazon really focus on their mobile site experience?

  • http://www.bivings.com/ Steve Petersen

    Mary,

    I see where you’re coming from. Texting seems cumbersome, but I don’t want to browser the web on my phone though…

  • http://www.bivings.com/ Steve Petersen

    Mary,

    I see where you’re coming from. Texting seems cumbersome, but I don’t want to browser the web on my phone though…

  • http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

    I agree with Mary – this is definitely one of those things that sound cool but that I would never use.

  • http://www.bivingsreport.com Todd Zeigler

    I agree with Mary – this is definitely one of those things that sound cool but that I would never use.

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