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Consumers in Yorkshire will soon be able to access 24-hour support from Craven Housing Association (CHA).

The organisation is introducing a phone line which will be manned by trained support workers, reports the Craven Herald.

They will be on hand to respond to any queries and concerns from disabled or elderly people who live in the area, which includes market towns and villages in the Yorkshire Dales.

In addition, the group is also allowing people to use a 24-hour alarm system, which can be used in the event of any emergency incident.

Linda Addis, manager of supported housing for CHA, commented: "Our main aim is to help elderly people in Craven live safely and securely while retaining the independence of remaining in their own homes."

The CHA currently manages nearly 1,500 properties in areas such as Skipton, Crosshills, Glusburn and Long Preston.

People in Scotland who have a drink problem can now take advantage of a new help line designed to overcome their dependence.

Heavy drinkers will be able receive advice and support through the new phone service, which has been provided by the NHS.

This is the latest attempt to tackle alcohol-related illnesses in Scotland, as they are one of the country's biggest public health issues.

John Turner, chief executive of NHS 24, commented: "It is sometimes said that the telephone is the most under-used bit of equipment in the delivery of healthcare."

Speaking to the Herald, he said delivering clinical services over the phone could be just as effective as seeing the patient face-to-face.

Another helpline targeting suicidal people in Scotland was recently launched by the Choose Life charity.

Spokesperson Brian Young told BBC News that talking about their problems could help them to feel better about themselves.

An animal charity has highlighted the benefits of text messaging after using the technology to communicate with campaigners.

People who are registered with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have been receiving messages containing a variety of instructions and pieces of information.

Rosa Argent, communications manager at the organisation, said the technology has enabled it to reach lots of people instantaneously.

Speaking to Mobile Marketing Magazine, she stated that this has allowed the group to campaign and lobby politicians more effectively.

"IFAW is a campaigning organisation so we rely heavily on quickly communicating with all our supporters at once," she commented.

Ms Argent added that using SMS technology has the extra benefit of allowing IFAW to receive an instant response.

This comes after Mark Brill, an analyst at Zdnet.co.uk, predicted that more and more businesses would adopt this means of communication this year.

Businesses in Glasgow are using text messages as a means of attracting more customers.

According to icScotland, companies in the Scottish city are using SMS technology in an attempt to tackle the economic downturn.

The TextMiser service allows consumers to track down where the best bargains are via their mobile phone.

People are required to text the name of the item they are looking for, after which they may be entitled to a voucher offering a discount on the said product.

Ryan McCann, managing director of TextMiser, commented: "Our system puts money saving deals on the products the customer wants to buy, right into the palm of their hand."

He added that consumers in Glasgow are "smart" people who like to get good value for money.

This comes shortly after authorities in the city announced that they would be improving the telecommunications infrastructure to extend mobile coverage to its underground network.

Businesses have been advised to use modern innovations such as text messages as part of their marketing campaigns.

According to Rob Walker of Chordiant, implementing technology that responds effectively to their needs is the best way to enhance the customer experience.

Therefore, he has told MyCustomer.com that adopting an SMS-based marketing campaign could be a good way of reaching people.

Mr Walker stated that in the current economic downturn, companies are under extra pressure to use their marketing budgets wisely.

"Implementing the latest technology to improve customer experience across all channels is vital, regardless of the economic situation," he commented.

However, Mr Walker added that businesses who do switch to digital advertising need to change their approach to ensure their campaign is effective through this medium.

According to the Mobile Marketing Association, mobile phones are likely to account for a high proportion of overall advertising spending in the next few years.

A helpline set up by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is attracting a high volume of calls from struggling enterprises.

Companies who are having difficulty paying their tax bills have increasingly been using the service in order to get financial advice.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, the Business Payment Support Service (BPSS) has become a very valuable resource for entrepreneurs.

Stephen Alambritis, head of public affairs at the organisation, told Accountancy Age: "We've had good feedback from our members about the service.

"They have been phoning in and have been given leeway."

Mr Alambritis added that HMRC has been "very understanding" in its dealings with small businesses due to difficult trading conditions.

Indeed, the current economic downturn has already claimed established larger brands such as Woolworths in recent months.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for BPSS stated that its call centre is capable of dealing with more than 3,000 enquiries an hour.

Businesses in the UK could soon combine SMS technology with emails to reach consumers.

According to the Marketing Innovation Group (MIG), a growing number of companies are trialing the Textfor system.

This allows them to contact consumers who do not have an email address on their records, but are contactable via mobile phone.

MIG stated that some businesses have seen customer spending increase by more than a third since it adopted this method of reaching people.

"2009 will see a resurgence in the use of text emails and greater use of SMS," it commented.

The organisation added that businesses should review their email system and consider how emails are delivered to mobile devices.

Companies were also encouraged to look at how easily they can enable emails to integrate with SMS technology.

The predictions come after Mark Brill of Zdnet.co.uk stated that more and more companies are likely to embrace the marketing opportunities presented by text messaging systems.

A British newspaper has set up a premium rate phone line for readers who are unhappy with the disappearance of 100-watt bulbs from high street stores.

Many retailers across the UK are complying with a new EU decision to roll out energy-saving alternatives to the traditional filament bulb.

However, the Daily Mail has expressed its opposition to the move, claiming that people are being forced to switch to the low energy devices.

As a result, it has snapped up 25,000 incandescent devices and is giving them away to people who ring a special number.

"When they're gone in a few weeks' time, you won't have any choice but to change," the newspaper commented.

Consumers have already emptied the shelves in many shops across the UK due to a spate of panic buying.

The Daily Express has also condemned the decision to scrap traditional light bulbs, describing it as "barmy".

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