Kalila Holt

A 22-year-old software programmer named Neil Papworth, a fun name, sent the very first text message.

It was sent from a computer because mobile devices weren't yet capable of sending texts at the time.

The recipient got a very festive surprise on his phone.

Yeah, it is jolly.

I don't know that we have that capability at the time.

It was a new technology.

What's a Christmas card?

It's writing.

I think their feet are built for that.

I don't know that they get splinters.

Was that your fact?

Gold phones is pretty cool, but sitting on a conference call with a bunch of governors sounds actually like a nightmare to me.

All right.

Well, here's my last fact.

In 2003, AT&T helped American Idol set up a voting system that relied on text messages rather than voice calls.

At the time, text messaging was still new, and some 22% of respondents to a later poll said they learned to text specifically in order to vote on the show.

A reality singing competition accidentally became one of the biggest drivers of texting adoption in American history.

I see where you're going for a professional singer, but not for any schmo who's like saying they like a certain singer better than another singer.

I don't think that that needs to be spoken.

It could just as easily be typed.