Smartphones have become a primary means of communication, making it easier for businesses to reach out to their customers. However, the desire to download and install new apps is at an all-time low, with 51% of people not downloading any apps in a given month. This makes app notifications less effective in engaging customers. SMS has a 98% open rate and 95% are opened within 5 minutes, making it a more reliable way to connect with customers. Businesses can use various options like toll-free SMS, local SMS, or short codes to engage with their customers through text messages without requiring them to download any additional apps.