OMG! Gov. Linda Lingle's office was sending out TMI.

During today's State of the State speech, reporters and editors suddenly found themselves reading text messages describing the speech and pointing them to the governor's Web address for details.

With no greeting, it wasn't clear whether this was a broad public pitch or one aimed at a small target audience.

Lingle press secretary Russell Pang said the office targeted only 130 reporters and editors with six messages. "We only sent them to reporters or editors for whom we had cell phone numbers," he said.

Pang said the effort was part of a plan to save money and paper by printing out fewer copies of the annual speech and referring most people to the governor's Web site for details.

In the past, the speech was copied by the hundreds and sometimes even printed into a booklet. But Pang said this year only 25 paper copies of the speech were made available to state Capitol reporters along with a small printed card directing people to the Web site.

He estimated the state saved $25,000 and save some paper, too, by stopping the big printing tradition.

For those who don't pay their phone provider for text messages, the messages prompted around $2 worth of charges and some kvetching. For others, the messages came out of the blue, a kind of text message spam for reporters already monitoring the speech.

But Pang said the office was looking for a fast and paperless way to quickly inform the news media. "Because we decided not to print the State of the State speech, we were looking for others ways to get the information out," Pang said.

Here are two of the messages: "Gov. Lingle just highlighted in her State of the State address. Hawai'i's pursuit of a clean energy future. To learn more, visit. ..." and "Gov. Lingle discussed a comprehensive Highways Modernization Plan during her State of the State address. To learn more. ..."

Lingle questioned the complaints about the messages: "Well, it's interesting you know, if don't give reporters information they get irritated that they don't get enough information. And when you give them more information, they're getting too much information."

Lingle described the messages this way: "What we did was to let people know there was some specific pieces of the speech we thought were especially significant — such as energy security for the state, and the economy obviously, the recreational renaissance — to direct people to go to the Web site to read the specific background on that proposal."

"There were only six messages sent out for the six key initiatives," Pang said. But some cell phone providers split the words into as many as 10 messages.

Pang said the eco-friendly text notices still have potential. They could be used to pass on urgent information such as during an islandwide power outage or or other emergency.

Advertiser staff writer Derrick DePledge contributed to this report.