Connect by Hertz, for instance, sends customers text messages to confirm a reservation.
Doing so, helps them maintain the quality of service for other customers texting or trying to make phone calls.
AllLife, a South African firm that offers life insurance to people with HIV, reduces its underwriting risk by sending its customers text messages reminding them to take their medication.
In other words, hold the sarcasm: If you send an e-mail complaint with references to "oh-so-helpful salesmen who clearly know their customers," text-mining software might eventually categorize your note as a compliment.
To begin receiving these messages, customers text to join using a keyword the business chooses.
To use the service, customers text the name of a product, its description, or its UPC or ISBN number to Amazon (262966).
Last October, Bank of America combined a similar function with its customers' cellphones: A program available to all Bank of America customers called "SafePass" sends customers text messages to their phones when they bank online, requesting that they enter a given code to confirm their identity.
The company sends the customer a text or an e-mail when the clothes are ready, usually 36 hours later.
New Zealand's parliament has narrowly passed new legislation compelling telecommunication companies to allow the intelligence agencies to access customers' emails, texts and phone calls.
More details soon... 2.22pm GMT New Zealand's parliament has narrowly passed new legislation compelling telecommunication companies to allow the intelligence agencies to access customers' emails, texts and phone calls, report Julian Borger and Tony Manhire in Auckland.
