The technology is also changing the organization and dynamics of protests, allowing leaders to control, virtually minute-by-minute, the movements of demonstrators, like military generals in the field. Using texts that communicate orders instantly, organizers can call for advances or retreats of waves of protesters.

The Philipenes, widely called the text-messaging center of the world, has led the way. In the wake of a string of unsolved murders in recent months students have begun clamoring for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to do something.

Raymond Palatino of Manila was one of the organizers of a 1,000 student protest at the gated presidential palace last week. The protest was organized completely through text messages.

When President Joseph Estrada was forced from office in 2001, he bitterly complained that the popular uprising against him was a "coup de text."

"When Estrada was ousted, we realized the power of texting," said Palatino, president of a national youth party. "Since then we have never stopped using it to advance our causes."

Read More: The Revolution will Be Digital