Singaporean sets SMS speed record


Singapore (dpa) - A Singaporean student has set a new world record for writing an SMS message in a time of 41.52 seconds, beating the previous mark of 42.22 seconds set in July by an American, organizers said Monday. Ang Chuang Yang, 16, was one of more than 300 competitors to take part in Sunday's SMS Shootout, sponsored by Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel). The Raffles Institution student is now waiting for the feat to be accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records. The message he whizzed through is set by Guinness. It is: The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality, they seldom attack a human. Ang said he will aim for 39 seconds next year. SingTel shootout champion Kimberly Yeo put Singapore in the record book in 2004 with a time of 43.24 seconds for the same 160-character, 26-word message.