By Mitchell Polman With Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking tools coming to the fore as public diplomacy tools, you might be surprised to know that a relatively old-fashioned technology – text messaging – is a favored vehicle for outreach from the Voice of America.  VOA has been expanding the use of SMS technology to deliver news and information to its audience worldwide.  The growing use of mobile phone technology in developing countries, especially in Africa, has made it possible for VOA to reach people directly.  VOA is using SMS to deliver public health information, monitor elections, and alert people to breaking news. In some cases, SMS technology can even help VOA interact with foreign citizens on events as they are happening.  In Zimbabwe, for example, VOA used funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch an SMS service prior to Zimbabwe's elections.  VOA provided news bulletins twice a day.  But the relationship with listeners was not a one-way street:  Zimbabweans replied via text message with tips and information on the elections.  Within two weeks time the service had 20,000 subscribers and was heading towards 50,000 subscribers