Appointment-Plus Introduces Text-Ding™ Automated Text Message Appointment...( Online appoi...),Health

Online appointment software leader merges customer self-scheduling convenience with text message technology to dramatically reduce appointment no-shows.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) September 18, 2009 -- In the span of just a few years, mobile phone text messaging has become one of the most important means of worldwide communication. Recent studies have consistently confirmed that mobile phone and text message use have overtaken home phones and even emails. Nearly 86% of Americans over 13 years old now own a cell phone. Capitalizing on this overwhelming trend, Appointment-Plus online scheduling software announced the release of its latest online appointment setting feature, Text-Ding™ automated text message appointment reminders. Text-Ding™ provides Appointment-Plus software users the ability to send an automated text message appointment reminder literally right into the hands of their customers, at the time the customer chooses.

A 2008 study concerning national health systems found that text message reminders reduced appointment no-shows by up to 50% and were more cost effective than any other reminder method. The study concluded that text message reminders were "particularly suitable" for increasing appointment attendance and improving customer communication. Recent studies have also demonstrated that 89% of all text messages are opened and read immediately upon receipt. In addition, mobile phone ownership in the United States is estimated to reach nearly 100% in less than four years. Consistent with these findings, an Appointment-Plus client survey in 2009 found overwhelming client demand for customer text message appointment reminders.

"E-mail reminders are like putting a letter in the mail and hoping that the letter get
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