Syracuse (WSYR-TV/CNN) – Today is a special anniversary for the communications industry.
It was 20 years ago, today, that Neil Papworth sent the first-ever text message.
He had to use a computer terminal to send the message to a colleague's cell phone:
"Merry Christmas."
"Texting" had a slow start, but eventually it surged in popularity – especially when it became cheaper than calling.
It is the single most-widely used application in the world; 81 percent of mobile phone subscribers use it.
Now, free alternatives like instant messaging apps are becoming more and more popular, and text messaging is in decline.
