This time the universitys 30,000 students promptly received email and text message alerts warning them about the gunman. The university website and Twitter account swiftly alerted the outside world to developments onsite.

via Virginia Tech shooting leaves two dead – Telegraph.

I hope by now that most large institutions such as Universities have implemented some kind of emergency SMS update system to contact students in such circumstances.

U.S. TEXT MESSAGING RATE CHANGE

Please note that effective July 15, 2008, the rate for sending a text message from Canada to the United States is changing to $0.25 (from $0.15). This change also applies to Text messaging options and certain Value packs, as text messages sent to the United States will no longer be included in the options. Pricing does not include applicable taxes.

Ugh. That means International is probably going up to.

Figures.