(NAPSA)—Have you ever heen in a situation when you needed to get in touch with someone, but couldn’t make a phone call? How about when a fellow commuter on the bus is speaking on their cell phoneso loudlyit puts you im bad mood for the whole day? Mobile phone use has become an imternational phenomenon, however, nnn there are times when making a phone call is inappropriate Gn a restaurant, at the theater). Tn today’s world of constant communication, more and more people are turning to e-mail and instant messaging--two popular online activities—to stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers from anywhere, and at anytime. And theyre finding that mobile instant messaging is beth more discreet and more fun. New two-way messaging devices, handheld computers and even mobile phones are becoming “must-haves” for everyday people, just as the Internet and cell phones were in the 1990s. It’s not just technology lovers whe are using these products-—they’re at the top ofgift lists for anyone with an active lifestyle who appreciates discreet andeasy communication. Moms on the go, teenagers and business professionals are all using these devices to stay connected throughout the day-—while commuting to work on the bus, during their child’s soccer game, at the airport and in other daily situations when they need to chat without talking. In a recent poll of America Online (AOL) members, 56 percent: said they would feel more at ease knowing that their family could reach them through e-mail or instant messaging and e-mail let people stay in touch without making a phone call. instant messaging on a two-way pager anytime throughout the day or night. Also, 68 percent said they have been in a situation where they wanted to get in touch with some- one, but couldn’t make a phonecall. Companies are responding to consumer demands byoffering new products and services that let people access their favorite features even when they're not near a cornputer. For instance, the AOL Mobile Communicator”lets people checktheir e-mail and send instant messages via a two-way communieations device that fits in the palm of their hand. These features are also available on several Webenabled mobile phones and gersonal digital assistants (PDAs), including Palm products. So the next time you see someone quietly tapping away on a mobile device in line at the movies, at a table in a restaurant or ta the waiting room at the doctor’s office, know that they're part of the new conaraunication revolution---and you can betoo.
