Published on Jun 22, 2023 By: Billy Eccleston, Vice President of eDiscovery Services
Short message conversions, also known as SMS conversion, refers to the process of converting text messages into a readable format for use in eDiscovery and legal proceedings. SMS messages are widely used for communication and collaboration, especially in the workplace. However, SMS messages present unique challenges in the eDiscovery process due to their limited length and informal language.
One of the difficulties of SMS conversion is the limited character count of SMS messages. SMS messages are restricted to 160 characters, and longer messages are split into multiple parts, each of which is treated as a separate message. This can make it difficult to accurately capture the entire message and can result in incomplete or truncated messages. Additionally, SMS messages often contain abbreviated or slang terms, which can be difficult to interpret and understand without context.
Another challenge of SMS conversion is the informality of SMS language. SMS messages are often written in a casual and conversational tone, using abbreviations and informal language that may not be easily understood by those outside the conversation. This can make it difficult to accurately capture the tone and meaning of the conversation, which can be important for legal proceedings.
Despite these challenges, SMS conversion is an essential process for eDiscovery and legal proceedings. SMS messages can contain important information related to a legal matter, such as evidence of wrongdoing or communications related to a specific case. Without the ability to convert SMS messages into a readable format, this information may be lost or difficult to retrieve, potentially impacting the outcome of legal proceedings.
Furthermore, as the use of SMS messages continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to effectively convert and analyze SMS data. With the increasing reliance on mobile devices and text messaging, SMS messages are likely to continue to play an important role in communication and collaboration, making it essential to develop effective strategies for SMS conversion.
Luckily, ID handles short message conversions better than almost anyone in the industry using ConvertID. ConvertiID is ID’s Relativity Short Message Format (RSMF) solution that allows the conversion of chat, social media, and mobile device data into a format that can be displayed in Relativity. ConvertID provides an immersive review experience for case teams with unrivaled reporting. Once “ConvertID” and processed for review, the data mimics the feel of the native source applications within Relativity.
We have experience scripting the following data types with ConvertID:
• Cell Phones/Mobile devices
• Communication Applications
• Text messages
• WhatsApp
• WeChat
• Facebook Messenger
• Telegram
• Microsoft Teams
• Slack
• Yammer
• Skype
• Bloomberg Messages
• Twitter
• Instagram
• and more
In conclusion, SMS conversion presents unique challenges due to the limited length and informal language of SMS messages. However, despite these difficulties, SMS conversion is a critical process for eDiscovery and legal proceedings, as SMS messages can contain important information related to a legal matter. As the use of SMS messages continues to grow, it is essential to develop effective strategies for SMS conversion to ensure that this information can be accurately captured and analyzed.
