MIT's Information Services & Technology (IS&T) recently launched an interactive text messaging service that provides a new way for community members to access information on the go.
Anyone with a text-messaging-capable phone can use the service, known as MIT Short Message Service, or MIT SMS, to connect to the following sources within seconds:
- People Directory (based on MIT's online directory)
- Shuttle Bus locations (via GPS)
- Stellar (for retrieving class announcements)
To get instructions on using the service, simply text INFO to 648338 (which spells MITEDU on a phone dial pad) or visit:
http://mobi.mit.edu/about/sms.html.
While MIT provides this service for free, users may be subject to text-messaging fees from their carriers, depending on their plan.
In the future, community members will be able to gain access to even more information via SMS such as MIT news and the Events Calendar. MIT SMS may also expand to provide opt-in notification services for classes, commencement, emergencies and other events. Researchers working on mobile applications may be able to use MIT SMS to facilitate their projects.
For questions and feedback, send e-mail to mobiweb@mit.edu.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on June 10, 2009 (download PDF).
