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Texts, Tweets Have Roots on Typewriter

German chose character length by writing random messages

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted May 11, 2009 9:37 AM CDT

(Newser) – The man who chose text-messaging’s magic number—160 characters—did so in a decidedly low-tech way, the Los Angeles Times reports. In 1985, German Friedhelm Hillebrand typed message after random message into his typewriter, and found that 160 was “perfectly sufficient,” he said. And now sufficiency is king: Americans sent more texts last year than they made cell phone calls.

Hillenbrand headed the non-voice division of the Global System for Mobile Communications, which ruled in 1986 that all cellular carriers and phones had to support standardized short messaging. They looked to postcards and Telex to confirm that 160 characters would be enough. Now, the model has taken hold on Twitter: Tweets are held to 140 characters, with 20 reserved for a user’s name.

Texting has now surpassed phone calling in the US. (Shutterstock)

Text messaging has roots in 1985 Germany. (Shutterstock)

A German man typed out random messages on his typewriter in 1985 to choose a good length. (Shutterstock)

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How Your Discarded Phone Can Improve Global Health

It can send texts, and one advocate says the Third World can benefit

Our Cell Phones Aren't Phones

We use them for texting, not calling

Supreme Court Backs Boss Who Read Employee Texts

Police chief has right to investigate on-the-job texting: justices

Traffic Tweets Send Mixed Messages

States send updates, but prohibit drivers from reading them

Families' Mornings Start with Tech Check

Families boot up computers, phones on waking

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