Set up by Mike Grenville, 160Characters.org has been tracking the mobile messaging industry since 2001.

Sandra Vogel and Patrick Smith have now joined the 160characters team.

Sandra is a technology journalist and she spends much of her time writing about technology for a wide range of both business and consumer focussed clients. Examples include zdnet.co.uk where she writes reviews and has a blog called Marginalia, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales for whose IT Faculty she writes regularly and at whose Web site, IT Counts, she blogs.

Patrick works in PR and he is the founder of Joshua PR. Over his career he has worked for a number of clients in the messaging sector. As well as running PR agencies, he has worked in Direct Marketing and Advertising, as well as client side and has knowledge of all aspects of the marketing mix.

As time goes by, the power and potential of mobile messaging gains greater appreciation. Now with the downturn in economic circumstances and outlook, the role of messaging seems to be growing in importance.

While we firmly believe that SMS still has much untapped potential, at 160Characters the focus is on all types of mobile messaging including MMS, MIM, voice and video and what can be done with them.

Activities include an mobile messaging industry news web site, free email newsletter, seminars, and the annual Mobile Messaging Awards.

We welcome relevant contributions, news and opinion pieces.