Instant two-way text messaging, that ubiquitous medium of Web-surfing and cell-phone-toting teens, isn't just for socializing anymore. Because of the medium's immediacy-it's faster than e-mail but less intrusive than a phone call-"people are increasingly getting hooked on the need for continuous two-way text messaging as a coordination, alerting, and notification mechanism" for conducting business, says James Kobielus, a senior analyst with Burton Group, an e-business analysis firm in Alexandria, VA.

Select from the choices above to read the entire article.