SA shines at SMS champs
2010-01-18 19:08
Cape Town - South Koreans may have won the world SMS competition, but two SA women proved they have the right stuff.
"It was an amazing event - the way it was organised," a jet-lagged Natalie Witoslowski told News24.
Witoslowski (20), who partnered with Kgothatso Moerane (22) and placed fifth in the competition, said that she has always been a speedy SMSer.
"I heard about the competition and entered on a day I had nothing else to do. I always used to be a fast texter and would practice copying the advertising text on billboards while driving," she said. But quickly added: "I mean, while someone else was driving the car."
Witoslowski's friends also helped her by writing sentences and timing her as she copied them. She said that she wasn't sure what edge the winners had.
Pressure
"I don't know what the winners had over us, but it's not only speed to be a fast texter. You have to remember the word, cope with the pressure and not be distracted by the audience," she said.
Witoslowski said the SMS is her primary means of communication.
"I send about 1 000 SMSes a month because I've got unlimited SMSes. When something happens or I want to tell my friends, I just send an SMS. Lately though, my phone has been ringing with calls since the competition," she added.
The LG Mobile World Cup challenged nimble-fingered youths on both speed and accuracy. The winning team took home a $100 000 prize.
Witoslowski gave a tip for SMS speed-demons.
"You have to write a big word in about five seconds."