# SMS-Only Walkie-Talkies Scholastic Elecronic Text Messengers Let You Safely Text in School By Michael Hines | Published 2010-10-23 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scholastic-elecronic-text-messengers References: [dvice](http://dvice.com/archives/2010/10/weird-radio-tex.php) & [amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Scholastic-0-545-03180-X-Electronic-Text-Messengers/dp/054503180X/?tag=trenhunt0f-20) The thing every high-schooler fears is getting his cell phone taken away, which is why the Scholastic Elecronic Text Messengers are allowed to exist. These inconspicuous [walkie-talkie like devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/professional-communication-device) can [send 40-character SMS messages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/texttheinternet) from a 600-foot radius. Up to 24 friends can be linked up and texting with the Scholastic Elecronic Text Messengers. Forty characters and a memory for only 14 messages is incredibly paltry, but when you consider that for $17 you get two of these bad boys, it isn't so bad. The [future of text messaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pippo) is upon us, and it looks a lot like the past. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 12% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Mobile](https://www.trendhunter.com/mobile) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sms-only Walkie-talkies:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop more advanced SMS-only walkie-talkies that support longer messages and have greater memory capacity. - **Inconspicuous Communication Devices:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design inconspicuous communication devices that allow discreet texting in settings where cell phones are prohibited. - **Affordable Group Messaging Solutions:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create affordable group messaging solutions that enable easy and inexpensive communication among a large number of users. ### Where This Applies - **Education Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate SMS-based communication devices into education technology platforms to enhance communication and collaboration among students and teachers. - **Security and Surveillance:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate SMS-based communication devices into security and surveillance systems to enable covert communication in sensitive environments. - **Mobile Device Accessories:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative mobile device accessories that enhance the functionality and convenience of SMS-based communication devices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Emoji-Only Communication Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sega-emojam.md) - [Two-Way Kids Messaging Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bot-talk.md) - [Connected Off-Grid Walkie-Talkies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lito-walkietalkie.md) - [Kid-Inspired Safety Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartwatch-phone-for-kids.md) - [Hands-Free Communication Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milo.md) - [Off-Grid Multimedia Communication Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/garmin-inreach-messenger-plus.md) - [Real-Time Sports Communication Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mesh-action-sports-communicator.md) - [Modernized Nostalgic Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tin-cans.md) - [Satellite Communication Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/garmin-inreach-messenger.md)