What is a messaging device?
A messaging device is any electronic equipment that facilitates sending and receiving electronic messages by using either data or an internet connection.
People can use messaging devices to communicate with their family, friends, and coworkers. They may also use these devices to reach out to businesses or other services, as needed.
When businesses want to communicate with their employees and reach them wherever they are, they send messages to their common messaging devices. Business instant messaging software can help with those conversations and track communication history.
Types of messaging devices
Some devices are specifically designed for messaging with no additional features; some provide multiple services, including sending and receiving messages. Some of the types are:
- Mobile phones
- Two-way pagers
- Laptop computers
- Desktop computers
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Fax machines
- Satellite messengers
What can messaging devices send and receive?
Messaging devices were originally designed to send and receive text-based messages, or short message service (SMS). As technology has advanced, so have the type of messages.
- Multiple image files, including file extensions such as .png, .jpg, and .bmp.
- Animated images or gifs.
- Audio clips, including file extensions like .m4a, .mp3, and .wav.
- Contact cards and information.
- Website URLs and shortened links from sites like Bitly.
- Video clips, including file extensions such as .m4v, .mp4, and .h264.
- Links to PDFs and other documents via file-sharing platforms and cloud services.
Benefits of messaging devices
Nowadays, communicating instantaneously is a necessity, especially for businesses. Messaging devices are instrumental in electronic communications and provide many benefits to their users, apart from easing communication.
- New messages prompt notifications. Push or prompt notifications are especially useful for increasing engagement and purchasing conversion rates for businesses.
- Device settings can be customized. Notification settings and other customizable features are common in more modern messaging devices such as smartphones and laptops.
- Users can respond to messages at their leisure. Messaging devices provide instantaneous communication, and they also facilitate asynchronous communication. While phone calls come with a sense of urgency, electronic messages can often wait.
- Previous messages are searchable. If a user needs to be reminded of a previous conversation, some devices provide a search feature that allows users to find an old message.
- Users can set reminders to respond to messages or mark messages as unread. If messages are accidentally opened, some messaging devices have a “mark as unread” feature enabling the users to respond later.
- Messaging devices can be lifesavers. While phone calls require immediate data usage or internet connectivity, electronic messages can be received and sent with even weak connectivity. Satellite messaging devices, in particular, are built to connect to GPS and satellites so they can be used in remote locations.
Considerations for messaging devices
Messaging devices have different functionalities, and some are built for specific industries or groups of people. When deciding on a messaging device, one should keep the following in mind:
- They’re typically a significant purchase. The newest phones and computers used for work and messaging are nearing, or over a thousand dollars. Even with payment plans, this can be out of reach for many.
- Specific features or entire devices can lose support at any time. Companies that create messaging devices can decide to remove update support for certain operating systems or applications. Smartphones, especially those created in the early 2000s, are particularly affected by this.
- Not all devices are two-way. Some versions of devices like beepers and satellite messengers are only intended to send or receive messages, not both.
- Extra costs can develop. Sometimes the base cost of a messaging device doesn’t cover what’s necessary for appropriate use. Other fees, such as for applications, data usage, or hotspot access, add up quickly.
Messaging device vs. mobile phone vs. smartphone vs. wireless device
A messaging device is any device built to send and receive electronic messages, either as its sole feature, or one of many.
A mobile phone is a type of telephone messaging device that provides many features to users, including the ability to send and receive messages. Today, a more common term is smartphone, as nearly all mobile phones access the internet, offer advanced capabilities, and have built-in virtual assistants.
A wireless device is any device or piece of equipment that doesn’t require a wired connection. These devices don’t necessarily have to send and receive electronic messages. Wireless devices like internet routers, baby monitors, walkie-talkies, and alarm systems use radio frequencies.
Employee communication software can further improve how information is exchanged in the workplace.
Whitney Rudeseal Peet
Whitney Rudeseal Peet is a former freelance writer for G2 and a story- and customer-centered writer, marketer, and strategist. She fully leans into the gig-based world, also working as a voice over artist and book editor. Before going freelance full-time, Whitney worked in content and email marketing for Calendly, Salesforce, and Litmus, among others. When she's not at her desk, you can find her reading a good book, listening to Elton John and Linkin Park, enjoying some craft beer, or planning her next trip to London.
