Facebook offers SMS status updates

Facebook is offering a new service that lets users of the social networking site subscribe to receive text messages of their friends' status updates directly from their profiles.

Users can also comment on their friends' status updates directly from their phone by replying to the text messages they receive.

As well as actual buds, Facebook users can also subscribe to mobile updates from the Facebook Pages of celebrities, public figures, businesses and organisations.

Users will need the Facebook mobile app on their phone, then they can click on the "Subscribe via SMS" link below their friends' profile pictures to get their latest news while they are mobile.

However, Facebook warns: "While Facebook does not charge for this service, your mobile-service provider's standard text messaging rates will apply so be sure to check with your provider".