Yesterday evening, I received a cellphone call from a fellow who wanted information on one of our listings.  He was calling me from Madeline Island, using a Blackberry with Verizon service.

He was having obvious trouble getting a decent cellular phone signal in downtown LaPointe.  We were able to chat for about ten or fifteen seconds and then his phone would drop the call.

With his phone number displayed on my Caller ID, I figured it was worth a try to see if he could receive text messages.  And it worked!  We were able to exchange email addresses and I sent him the information he needed.

Text messaging has turned out to be a boon for us in our real estate practice.  One of the biggest advantages is the fact that text messaging uses far less bandwidth than a cellphone call.  So when your cellular signal fails you and drops calls, or even if you don't have enough signal to connect with the person you're attempting to call, it's worth trying to make contact by sending a text message.

I've read that text messaging worked when all other forms of communication failed during the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. 

If you find yourself showing property in an area with low population density, text messaging can keep you in touch with office or clients, even when the available cell signal is so poor that calls are difficult to place.  And if you are momentarily in a "dead zone" (zero signal area), most cellphones will store your SMS message so you can hit "re-send" at a later time and you'll have a better chance of getting your message on its way.

I've found text messaging especially useful in northern Wisconsin and in parts of rural Minnesota or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the cellular service is poor.  It even works quite well on the seventy-mile stretch of Highway 13 that runs between Superior, Wisconsin and Ashland, an area that is notorious for dropped calls.

Our Madeline Island EMTs and other emergency personnel would be wise to offer a text messaging number that could be used to obtain fire, ambulance or police assistance.  Last year I witnessed a tourist accident on Big Bay where a first responder was trying to render first aid and no one nearby could get enough cell signal to call the LaPointe EMT (landline) number.

You can read more about my experiences with cellular phone service on Madeline Island here:

Cellphone Secrets - How to Get a Cellular Phone Signal on Madeline Island

Now I remind my clients "If you're having trouble reaching me by cellphone, text me at 612-670-2539".