Editing SMS

{{short description|Text messaging service component}}
{{other uses}}
{{for|text messaging in general|Text messaging}}
[[File:SMS test.jpg|thumb|An SMS message written on a [[Motorola Razr]] V3]]
'''Short Message Service''', commonly abbreviated as '''SMS''', is a [[text messaging]] service component of most [[telephone]], [[Internet]] and [[mobile device]] systems. It uses standardized [[communication protocols]] that let [[mobile phone]]s exchange short text messages, typically transmitted over [[cellular networks]].

Developed as part of the [[GSM]] standards, and based on the [[Signalling System No. 7|SS7]] signalling protocol, SMS rolled out on digital cellular networks starting in 1993<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/9718336/Text-messaging-at-20-how-SMS-changed-the-world.html| first=Jennifer | last=O'Mahony| date=3 December 2012| title=How SMS Changed the World| website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| access-date=10 May 2020| archive-date=18 November 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118084159/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/9718336/Text-messaging-at-20-how-SMS-changed-the-world.html| url-status=live }}</ref> and was originally intended for customers to receive alerts from their [[Mobile network operator|carrier/operator]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A short history of SMS for anyone working in Telecommunications |url=https://www.dynamicmobilebilling.com/dynamic-mobile-billings-blog/a-short-history-of-sms-for-anyone-working-in-telecommunications |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.dynamicmobilebilling.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> The service allows users to send and receive text messages of up to 160 characters,{{Efn|Specifically 140 [[bytes]], allowing 160 7-bit (i.e. entirely alpha-numeric) characters, 140 8-bit characters, or 70 2-byte characters in languages such as Chinese when encoded using [[UTF-16]] character encoding.}} originally to and from GSM phones and later also [[Code-division multiple access|CDMA]] and [[Digital AMPS]];<ref name="Play GK Quiz:When First SMS Was Sent">{{cite web |title=When First SMS Was Sent |url=http://playgkquiz.com/first/when-first-sms-was-sent |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034924/http://playgkquiz.com/first/when-first-sms-was-sent |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2017 |website=Play GK Quiz}}</ref> it has since been defined and supported on newer networks,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ghribi |first1=Brahim |last2=Logrippo |first2=Luigi |date=November 2000 |title=Understanding GPRS: The GSM Packet Radio Service |journal=[[Computer Networks (journal)|Computer Networks]] |volume=34 |issue=5 |pages=763–779 |doi=10.1016/S1389-1286(00)00127-4 |via=[[University of Ottawa]] |url=https://cserg0.site.uottawa.ca/ftp/pub/Lotos/Papers/GPRS_Tutorial.pdf }}</ref> including present-day [[5G]] ones. Using [[SMS gateway]]s, messages can be transmitted over the Internet through an [[Short Message service center|SMSC]], allowing communication to computers, fixed [[landline]]s, and [[Satellite phone|satellite]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=How SMS gateway works |url=https://ozeki-sms-gateway.com/p_1071-how-sms-gateway-works.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Ozeki SMS Gateway |language=en}}</ref> [[Multimedia Messaging Service|MMS]] was later introduced as an upgrade to SMS with "picture messaging" capabilities.

In addition to recreational texting between people, SMS is also used for [[mobile marketing]] (a type of [[direct marketing]]),<ref>{{cite web |last=Black |first=Ken |date=September 13, 2016 |title=What is SMS Marketing? |url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sms-marketing.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826192200/http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sms-marketing.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |access-date=September 28, 2016 |work=wiseGEEK}}</ref> [[Multi-factor authentication|two-factor authentication]] logging-in,<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is SMS 2FA? {{!}} Security Encyclopedia |url=https://www.hypr.com/security-encyclopedia/sms-2fa |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.hypr.com |language=en}}</ref> [[televoting]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eurovision facts and figures |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/eurovision/facts |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> mobile banking (see [[SMS banking]]), and for other commercial content.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2004 |title=Short Message Service (SMS) in Fixed and Mobile Networks |website=[[European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations]] |url=https://docdb.cept.org/download/333 }}</ref> The SMS standard has been hugely popular worldwide as a method of text communication: by the end of 2010, it was the most widely used data application with an estimated 3.5 billion active users, or about 80% of all mobile phone subscribers.<ref name="itu">{{cite web |title=The World Today – The rise of 3G |url=https://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/material/FactsFigures2010.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203214355/https://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/material/FactsFigures2010.pdf |archive-date=2022-12-03 |access-date=2022-12-03}}</ref> More recently, SMS has become increasingly challenged by newer proprietary [[instant messaging]] services;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Features |first=Chris Gayomali last updated in |date=2012-12-03 |title=The text message turns 20: A brief history of SMS |url=https://theweek.com/articles/469869/text-message-turns-20-brief-history-sms |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=theweek |language=en}}</ref> [[Rich Communication Services|RCS]] has been designated as the potential open standard successor to SMS.<ref name=":1" />

== Developmental history ==
SMS technology originated from [[radio telegraphy]] in radio memo [[pager]]s that used standardized phone protocols. These were defined in 1986 as part of the Global System for Mobile Communications ([[GSM]]) series of standards.<ref name="GSM 28/85">GSM Doc 28/85 "Services and Facilities to be provided in the GSM System" rev2, June 1985</ref> The first SMS message was sent on 3 December 1992, when [[Neil Papworth]], a test engineer for [[Sema Group]], sent "Merry Christmas" to the Orbitel 901 phone of colleague Richard Jarvis.<ref name="First SMS" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Kleinman |first=Zoe |title='Merry Christmas': 30 years of the text message |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63825894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203112737/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63825894 |archive-date=2022-12-03 |access-date=2022-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Vintage Mobiles |url=http://www.gsmhistory.com/vintage-mobiles/#orbitel_901_1992 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126051916/http://www.gsmhistory.com/vintage-mobiles/#orbitel_901_1992 |archive-date=2016-01-26 |access-date=2022-12-03 |work=History of GSM |at=Orbitel 901 – the first GSM mobile and the first to receive a commercial SMS text message (1992)}}</ref>

=== Initial concept ===
[[File:Telephone-keypad.svg|thumb|[[E.161]], a common mobile keypad alphabet layout]]
Adding text messaging functionality to mobile devices began in the early 1980s. The first action plan of the CEPT Group [[GSM]] was approved in December 1982, requesting that "The services and facilities offered in the public switched telephone networks and public data networks&nbsp;... should be available in the mobile system."<ref>see GSM document 02/82, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> This plan included the exchange of text messages either directly between mobile stations, or transmitted via message handling systems in use at that time.<ref>These Message Handling Systems had been standardized in the ITU, see specifications X.400 series</ref>

The SMS concept was developed in the Franco-German GSM cooperation in 1984 by [[Friedhelm Hillebrand]] and [[Bernard Ghillebaert]].<ref>See the book Hillebrand, Trosby, Holley, Harris: SMS the creation of Personal Global Text Messaging, Wiley 2010</ref> The GSM is optimized for telephony, since this was identified as its main application. The key idea for SMS was to use this telephone-optimized system, and to transport messages on the [[Signalling System No. 7|signalling paths]] needed to control the telephone traffic during periods when no signalling traffic existed. In this way, unused resources in the system could be used to transport messages at minimal cost. However, it was necessary to limit the length of the messages to 128 bytes (later improved to 160 seven-bit characters) so that the messages could fit into the existing signalling formats. Based on his personal observations and on analysis of the typical lengths of [[postcard]] and [[Telex]] messages, Hillebrand argued that 160 characters was sufficient for most brief communications.<ref name="latimesblogs.latimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/05/invented-text-messaging.html|title=Technology|access-date=June 14, 2015|date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930082324/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/05/invented-text-messaging.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

SMS could be implemented in every mobile station by updating its software. Hence, a large base of SMS-capable terminals and networks existed when people began to use SMS.<ref>See GSM document 28/85rev.June 2, 85 and GSM WP1 document 66/86, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> A new network element required was a specialized short message service centre, and enhancements were required to the radio capacity and network transport infrastructure to accommodate growing SMS traffic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ETSI |first=TC-SMG |title=Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+); Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS) |url=https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gts/03/0340/05.02.00_60/gsmts_0340v050200p.pdf |website=etsi.org |access-date=2023-12-12 |archive-date=2023-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212070051/https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_gts/03/0340/05.02.00_60/gsmts_0340v050200p.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Early development ===
The technical development of SMS was a multinational collaboration supporting the framework of standards bodies.  Through these organizations the technology was made freely available to the whole world.<ref>See also [[Friedhelm Hillebrand]] "GSM and UMTS, the creation of Global Mobile Communication", Wiley 2002, chapters 10 and 16, {{ISBN|0-470-84322-5}}</ref>

The first proposal which initiated the development of SMS was made by a contribution of Germany and France in the GSM group meeting in February 1985 in Oslo.<ref>GSM document 19/85, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> This proposal was further elaborated in GSM subgroup WP1 Services (Chairman Martine Alvernhe, France Telecom) based on a contribution from Germany. There were also initial discussions in the subgroup WP3 network aspects chaired by Jan Audestad (Telenor). The result was approved by the main GSM group in a June 1985 document which was distributed to industry.<ref>GSM document 28/85r2, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> The input documents on SMS had been prepared by Friedhelm Hillebrand of [[Deutsche Telekom]], with contributions from Bernard Ghillebaert of [[France Télécom]]. The definition that Friedhelm Hillebrand and Bernard Ghillebaert brought into GSM called for the provision of a message transmission service of alphanumeric messages to mobile users "with acknowledgement capabilities". The last three words transformed SMS into something much more useful than the electronic paging services used at the time that some in GSM might have had in mind.<ref>{{cite web|title=So who really did create SMS?|url=http://www.gsmhistory.com/sms/|publisher=Stephen Temple|access-date=April 6, 2013|date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=May 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511181922/http://www.gsmhistory.com/sms/|url-status=live}}</ref>

SMS was considered in the main GSM group as a possible service for the new digital cellular system. In GSM document "''Services and Facilities to be provided in the GSM System,''"<ref name="GSM 28/85"/> both mobile-originated and mobile-terminated short messages appear on the table of GSM teleservices.<ref name="GSM 28/85"/>

The discussions on the GSM services were concluded in the recommendation GSM 02.03 "''TeleServices supported by a GSM [[Public land mobile network|PLMN]].''"<ref name="GSM 02.03">{{cite web |url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=29 |title=Teleservices Supported by a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) |id=GSM TS 02.03}}</ref> Here a rudimentary description of the three services was given:

# Short message mobile-terminated (SMS-MT)/ Point-to-Point: the ability of a network to transmit a Short Message to a mobile phone. The message can be sent by phone or by a software application.
# Short message mobile-originated (SMS-MO)/ Point-to-Point: the ability of a network to transmit a Short Message sent by a mobile phone. The message can be sent to a phone or to a software application.
# Short message [[Cell Broadcast|cell broadcast]].<ref name="GSM 02.03"/>

WP4 created a Drafting Group Message Handling (DGMH), which was responsible for the specification of SMS. Finn Trosby of Telenor chaired the draft group through its first three years, in which the design of SMS was established. DGMH had five to eight participants, and Finn Trosby mentions as major contributors Kevin Holley, Eija Altonen, Didier Luizard and Alan Cox. The first action plan<ref>Document GSM IDEG 79/87r3, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> mentions for the first time the Technical Specification 03.40 "Technical Realisation of the Short Message Service". Responsible editor was Finn Trosby. The first and very rudimentary draft of the technical specification was completed in November 1987.<ref>GSM 03.40, WP4 document 152/87, available on the GSM-SMG Archive DVD-ROM</ref> However, drafts useful for the manufacturers followed at a later stage in the period. A comprehensive description of the work in this period is given in.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Finn Trosby |url=http://www.telenor.com/telektronikk/volumes/pdf/3.2004/Page_187-194.pdf |title=SMS the strange duckling of GSM |journal=Telektronikk |volume=3 |date=2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925185855/http://,www.telenor.com/telektronikk/volumes/pdf/3.2004/Page_187-194.pdf |archive-date=September 25, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Early implementations ===
The first SMS message<ref name="First SMS">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2538083.stm |title=Hppy bthdy txt! |date=3 December 2002 |website=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070120045138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2538083.stm |archive-date=2007-01-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> was sent over the [[Vodafone]] GSM network in the United Kingdom on 3 December 1992, from [[Neil Papworth]] of [[Sema Group]] (now [[Airwide Solutions|Mavenir Systems]]) using a personal computer to Richard Jarvis of Vodafone using an Orbitel 901 handset. The text of the message was "Merry Christmas."<ref name="Neil Papworth">{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/uk-hails-10th-birthday-of-sms/articleshow/30216466.cms |title=UK hails 10th birthday of SMS |date=4 December 2002 |website=The Times of India}}</ref>

The first commercial deployment of a [[short message service center]] (SMSC) was by [[Aldiscon]] part of [[Logica]] (now part of [[CGI Inc.|CGI]]) with Telia (now [[TeliaSonera]]) in Sweden in 1993,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.logica.com/history%2Band%2Bkey%2Bmilestones/350233679 |title=First commercial deployment of Text Messaging (SMS) |access-date=May 24, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316145401/http://www.logica.com/history%2Band%2Bkey%2Bmilestones/350233679 |archive-date=March 16, 2008 }}</ref> followed by Fleet Call (now [[Nextel]])<ref>{{cite web |author=US Department of Homeland Security |title=Cellular Technologies |url=https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/filenode/3260%20TOD%20CELLULAR%20PHONE%20TECHNOLOGIES.pdf |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524003007/https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/filenode/3260%20TOD%20CELLULAR%20PHONE%20TECHNOLOGIES.pdf |archive-date=May 24, 2012 }}</ref> in the US, Telenor in Norway<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our history in Norway|at=1993|url=https://www.telenor.com/about/who-we-are/history/our-history-in-norway/|quote=Telenor leads in establishing GSM (2G) – the SMS service was a part of this platform|access-date=3 December 2022|website=Telenor Group|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203214126/https://www.telenor.com/about/who-we-are/history/our-history-in-norway/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and BT Cellnet (now O2 UK).<ref>{{cite news |title=BT unveils new mobile brand |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1522609.stm |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=September 3, 2001 |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409180842/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1522609.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first commercially sold SMS service was offered to consumers, as a person-to-person text messaging service by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa) in Finland in 1993.  Most early GSM mobile phone handsets did not support the ability to send SMS text messages, and [[Nokia]] was the only handset manufacturer whose total GSM phone line in 1993 supported user-sending of SMS text messages. According to [[Matti Makkonen]], an engineer at Nokia at the time, the [[Nokia 2010]],<!--Not 2110--> which was released in January 1994, was the first mobile phone to support composing SMSes easily.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nael |first=Merili |title=Suri tekstisõnumite looja Matti Makkonen |language=et |trans-title=Creator of text messages Matti Makkonen died |work=Err.ee |publisher=[[Eesti Rahvusringhääling]] |date=June 30, 2015 |url=https://www.err.ee/537689/suri-tekstisonumite-looja-matti-makkonen |access-date=July 27, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055510/http://uudised.err.ee/v/majandus/7155b340-33ce-40d3-8a26-0f8644be4a24 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Growth and adoption ===
Initial growth was slow, with customers in 1995 sending on average only 0.4 messages per GSM customer per month.<ref name="gsmworld">{{cite press release |url=http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2001/press_releases_4.shtml |title=More Than 200 Billion GSM Text Messages Forecast for Full Year 2001 |publisher=GSM Association |date=12 February 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020215194430/http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2001/press_releases_4.shtml |archive-date=February 15, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Initially, networks in the UK only allowed customers to send messages to other users on the same [[Mobile network operator|network]], limiting the usefulness of the service. This restriction was lifted in 1999.<ref name="First SMS" /> Over time, this issue was eliminated by switch billing instead of billing at the SMSC and by new features within SMSCs to allow blocking of foreign mobile users sending messages through it. By the end of 2000, the average number of messages reached 35 per user per month,<ref name="gsmworld" /> and on Christmas Day 2006, over 205 million messages were sent in the UK alone.<ref name="2b">{{Cite news |last=Crystal |first=David |title=2b or not 2b? |work=Guardian Unlimited |access-date=July 8, 2008 |date=July 5, 2008 |url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/referenceandlanguages/story/0,,2289259,00.html |location=London, UK |archive-date=July 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708044626/http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/referenceandlanguages/story/0,,2289259,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> SMS had become a social phenomenon in Finland among teens and youngsters by 1999.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Silberman |first=Steve |title=Just Say Nokia |url=https://www.wired.com/1999/09/nokia/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> SMS traffic across Europe reached 4 billion messages as of January 2000.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 June 2002 |title=Towards the Full Roll-Out of Third Generation Mobile Communications |website=[[European Union]] Law |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2002:0301:FIN:EN:PDF }}</ref>

It had become extremely popular in the [[Philippines]] by 2001 and the country was dubbed the "texting capital of the world",<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Philippine text messaging phenomenon {{!}} Philstar.com |url=https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/business-life/2001/05/15/85823/philippine-text-messaging-phenomenon |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=www.philstar.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Celdran |first=David |date=January 2002 |title=The Philippines: SMS and Citizenship |journal=Development Dialogue |volume=1 |number=1 |pages=91–103 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233756388 }}</ref> partly helped by large numbers of free text messages offered by the mobile operators in monthly subscriptions.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Je ne texte rien |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2004/07/08/je-ne-texte-rien |access-date=2024-08-04 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref> SMS adoption was limited to parts of Europe and Asia during these earlier years,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-23 |title=Europe, Asia embrace GR8 way to stay in touch |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4787668 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> with U.S. adoption being low partly due to incompatible networks and cheap voice calls relative to other countries.<ref name=":2" /> ''[[The Economist]]'' wrote in 2003, as noted by an analyst:<ref>{{Cite news |title=No text please, we're American |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2003/04/03/no-text-please-were-american |access-date=2024-08-04 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = The short answer is that, in America, talk is cheap. Because local calls on [[landline|land lines]] are usually free, [[mobile network operator|wireless operators]] have to offer big “bundles” of minutes—up to 5,000 minutes per month—as part of their monthly pricing plans to persuade subscribers to use mobile phones instead. [[Text messaging|Texting]] first took off in other parts of the world among cost-conscious teenagers who found that it was cheaper to text than to call [..]  Free local calls also make [[Dial-up Internet access|logging on]] to the internet, for hours at a time, and using PC-to-PC “[[instant messaging]]” (IM) the preferred mode of electronic chat among American teenagers.}}

This is also backed by the fact that as of 2003, American internet users were spending on average five times more time online than Europeans,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-06-30 |title=Will instant messaging be the new texting? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3031796.stm |access-date=2024-08-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and many poorer countries in Europe and other regions around the world had significantly lower rates of internet access compared to the United States at the time (see [[digital divide]]), hence making SMS more accessible.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kapitsa |first=L. |date=12 December 2007 |title=Member-countries of the UNECE region are among the forerunners and today's leaders in the level of Internet development... |website=[[United Nations Economic Commission for Europe]] |format=DOC |url=https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/pp/electronictools/Mini-conference%20presentations/PRESENTATION%20-%20mini-conference2.doc }}</ref>

== Contemporary usage ==
[[File:SMS messages sent monthly in USA (in billions).svg|thumb|SMS messages sent monthly in the U.S. from 2001 to 2008 (in billions)]]{{See also|Text messaging}}{{Bar chart|title=|label_type=<small>Country</small>|data_type=<small>Monthly messages sent per mobile subscriber (2003)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mashable.com/2010/08/17/text-messaging-infographic/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818061154/http://mashable.com/2010/08/17/text-messaging-infographic/ | archive-date=2010-08-18 | title=The Rise of Text Messaging &#91;INFOGRAPHIC&#93; | website=[[Mashable]] | date=17 August 2010 }}</ref><ref name=":2" /></small>|bar_width=10|width_units=em|data_max=200|label1=<small>Philippines</small>|data1=195|label2=<small>South Korea</small>|data2=120|label3=<small>Ireland</small>|data3=79|label4=<small>Croatia</small>|data4=72|label5=<small>Indonesia</small>|data5=68|label6=<small>France</small>|data6=19|float=right|data7=13|label7=<small>United States</small>}}
SMS has become a large commercial industry, earning $114.6&nbsp;billion globally in 2010.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Charles H. |title=Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Competency Framework |last2=Brueggemann |first2=Ralph |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-415-74252-8 |edition=First |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=New York |oclc=893453493 }}</ref> In the year 2002, 366 billion SMS text messages were sent globally,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-07-16 |title=Etisalat launches MMS service |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/etisalat-launches-mms-service |access-date=2024-08-04 |newspaper=[[Khaleej Times]] |language=en }}</ref> a number that rose to 6.1 trillion (6.1 × 10<sup>12</sup>) in 2010.<ref name="itu" /> In 2015, the actual cost of sending an SMS in Australia was found to be $0.00016 per SMS.<ref>{{cite web |last=Han |first=Esther |date=May 6, 2015 |title=Cheaper mobile calls and text as ACCC moves to slash wholesale fees |url=http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/cheaper-mobile-calls-and-text-as-accc-moves-to-slash-wholesale-fees-20150506-ggv540.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508193055/http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/cheaper-mobile-calls-and-text-as-accc-moves-to-slash-wholesale-fees-20150506-ggv540.html |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |access-date=May 6, 2015 |via=The Age}}</ref> The global SMS messaging business was estimated to be worth over [[US$]]240 billion in 2013, accounting for almost half of all revenue generated by mobile messaging.<ref>{{cite web |author=Portio Research |title=Mobile Messaging Futures 2014-20148 |url=http://www.portioresearch.com/en/messaging-reports/mobile-messaging-research/mobile-messaging-futures-2014-2018.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208180248/http://www.portioresearch.com/en/messaging-reports/mobile-messaging-research/mobile-messaging-futures-2014-2018.aspx |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=September 28, 2016}}</ref>

The popularity of SMS also led to the spontaneous creation of the so-called '[[SMS language]]' phenomenon, where words are shortened in order to deal with the 160 character limit of SMS messages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} E-CYCLOPEDIA {{!}} Txt msging: Th shp of thngs 2 cm? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/e-cyclopedia/444089.stm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Usage of SMS for mobile data services became increasingly prominent in the early 2000s due to its ubiquity, reliability, and cold reception of the newer [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] standard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-04-13 |title=SMS: Mobile data's dark horse hits its stride |url=https://www.idg.net/idgns/2001/03/02/SMSMobileDatasDarkHorseHits.shtml |access-date=2024-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413115619/https://www.idg.net/idgns/2001/03/02/SMSMobileDatasDarkHorseHits.shtml |archive-date=2001-04-13 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (see ''Premium-rated services'' below). In the early and mid 2000s, [[Multimedia Messaging Service]] (MMS) was developed as an improved version of SMS that supports sending of pictures and video.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-05-13 |title=It's a hamster on your mobile. Or possibly Kylie |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2000/dot_life/1984162.stm |access-date=2024-08-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

SMS has been increasingly challenged by [[Internet Protocol]]-based messaging services with additional features for modern mobile devices, such as [[Facebook Messenger]], [[WhatsApp]], [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]], or [[WeChat]].<ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2011 |title=The death of SMS is exaggerated |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-death-of-SMS-has-been-greatly-exaggerated_id19493 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109033416/http://www.phonearena.com/news/The-death-of-SMS-has-been-greatly-exaggerated_id19493 |archive-date=9 January 2012 |access-date=25 November 2011}}</ref> These services run independently from [[mobile network operator]]s and typically don't provide cross-platform messaging capabilities like SMS or [[email]] does.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Junge |first=Jack |date=2017-02-27 |title=RCS: Next Generation SMS |url=https://gatewayapi.com/blog/rcs-next-generation-sms/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=GatewayAPI |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, between 2010 and 2022, SMS telecom revenue in India dropped 94 percent, while "revenue share per user from data usage...grew over 10 times.",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-09 |title=Online apps slash telecoms revenue: 80% decline in voice calls, 94% drop in SMS in 10 years |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/trai-paper-says-online-apps-slash-telecoms-revenue-80-decline-in-voice-calls-94-drop-in-sms-in-10-years-101688893671538.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111191508/https://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/trai-paper-says-online-apps-slash-telecoms-revenue-80-decline-in-voice-calls-94-drop-in-sms-in-10-years-101688893671538.html |archive-date=2023-11-11 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> although in some regions such as North America SMS continues to be used by over 80 percent of the population as of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brouwers |first=Christel |title=SMS: Popularity, Statistics, and Use Cases |url=https://www.cm.com/blog/how-popular-is-sms/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=CM.com |language=en}}</ref> In order to create a modern successor to SMS that isn't run by a single company and is fully interoperable between devices, industry figures have created the [[Rich Communication Services|RCS]] 'Universal Profile' initiative.<ref name=":1" /> It was supported by Apple when [[iOS]] 18 came out in 2024, which will mean that virtually all new mobile phones (iOS and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platforms) will have RCS texting capabilities, though this may also depend on if the network operator supports it.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RCS Messaging Finally Lands on Your iPhone With the iOS 18 Public Betas |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/rcs-messaging-finally-lands-on-your-iphone-with-the-ios-18-public-betas/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref>

=== Premium-rated services ===<!-- linked from redirect [[Mobile purchasing]] -->
{{See also|Reverse SMS billing|Short code}}

SMS may be used to provide [[premium rate telephone number|premium rate services]] to subscribers of a network.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Rossignuolo |first=Vincenza |date=2021 |title=SMS codes [Explained] |url=https://www.smsglobal.com/blog/sms-codes-explained/ |website=SMSglobal}}</ref> Today, they are also used to pay smaller payments online—for example, for file-sharing services, in mobile application stores, or VIP section entrance. Outside the online world, one can buy a bus ticket or beverages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Text messaging grows up |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/916337.stm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

=== Other uses ===
[[File:Landline text messaging.JPG|thumb|A [[Siemens]] [[landline]] [[DECT]] telephone that is capable of SMS]]Additionally, an intermediary service can facilitate a [[text-to-voice]] conversion to be sent to [[landline]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Heather |date=December 3, 2012 |title=OMG, The Text Message Turns 20. But has SMS peaked? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/12/03/tech/mobile/sms-text-message-20/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127015927/https://www.cnn.com/2012/12/03/tech/mobile/sms-text-message-20/index.html |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

In 2014, Caktus Group<ref>{{cite web |title=Caktus Group |url=https://www.caktusgroup.com/case-study/worlds-first-sms-voter-registration-system/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222110329/https://www.caktusgroup.com/case-study/worlds-first-sms-voter-registration-system/ |archive-date=2017-02-22 |access-date=2017-02-21}}</ref> developed the world's first SMS-based voter registration system in Libya. As of February 2015 more than 1.5 million people have registered using that system, providing Libyan voters with unprecedented access to the democratic process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Libya's Election Ushers in New Voter Tech |url=https://worldpolicy.org/blog/2014/06/25/libyas-election-ushers-new-voter-tech |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707133610/https://worldpolicy.org/blog/2014/06/25/libyas-election-ushers-new-voter-tech |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |access-date=June 14, 2015 |publisher=World Policy Institute}}</ref>

==== Flash SMS ====
A Flash SMS is a type of SMS that appears directly on the main screen without user interaction and is not automatically stored in the inbox.<ref>{{cite web |title=SMS types on routomessaging.com |url=http://www.routomessaging.com/message-sms-types.pmx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505115257/http://www.routomessaging.com/message-sms-types.pmx |archive-date=May 5, 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2016}}</ref> It can be useful in [[emergency|emergencies]], such as a [[Fire alarm system|fire alarm]] or cases of [[confidentiality]], as in delivering [[one-time password]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flash SMS |url=http://www.sms-wiki.org/p_28-flash-sms.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818052517/http://www.sms-wiki.org/p_28-flash-sms.html |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |access-date=June 14, 2015}}</ref>

==== Silent SMS ====
In 2010, almost half a million silent SMS messages were sent by the German federal police, customs and the federal domestic intelligence service [[Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution|Verfassungsschutz]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reitman |first1=Rainey |date=10 January 2012 |title=Privacy Roundup: Mandatory Data Retention, Smart Meter Hacks, and Law Enforcement Usage of Silent SMS |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/privacy-roundup-mandatory-data-retention-smart-meter-hacks-and-law-enforcement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215071621/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/01/privacy-roundup-mandatory-data-retention-smart-meter-hacks-and-law-enforcement |archive-date=15 February 2015 |access-date=15 February 2015 |publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zoll, BKA und Verfassungsschutz verschickten 2010 über 440.000 "stille SMS" &#124; heise online |date=13 December 2011 |url=http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Zoll-BKA-und-Verfassungsschutz-verschickten-2010-ueber-440-000-stille-SMS-1394593.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302053002/http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Zoll-BKA-und-Verfassungsschutz-verschickten-2010-ueber-440-000-stille-SMS-1394593.html |archive-date=March 2, 2013 |access-date=February 24, 2013 |publisher=Heise.de}}</ref> These silent messages, also known as silent TMS, stealth SMS, stealth ping or Short Message Type 0,<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2015 |title=3GPP TS 51.010-1 version 12.5.0 Release 12 |url=http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/151000_151099/15101001/12.05.00_60/ts_15101001v120500p.pdf#page=3419 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424000419/http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/151000_151099/15101001/12.05.00_60/ts_15101001v120500p.pdf#page=3419 |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |access-date=April 23, 2017 |publisher=[[ETSI]] |pages=3418–3423}}</ref> are used to locate a person and thus to create a complete movement profile. They do not show up on a display, nor trigger any acoustical signal when received.  Their primary purpose was to deliver special services of the network operator to any cell phone.

==== SMS bombs ====
In March 2001, Dutch police in [[Amsterdam]] attempted to fight increasing cell phone theft by sending an SMS every three minutes to a phone that has been reported stolen, with the message "This handset was nicked, buying or selling is a crime. The police."<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN.com - SMS bombs nominated for crime-fighting prize - August 30, 2001 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry/08/30/sms.crime.fighter.idg/index.html |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-04-13 |title=Dutch police fight cell phone theft with SMS bombs |url=https://www.idg.net/idgns/2001/03/27/DutchPoliceFightsCellPhoneTheft.shtml |access-date=2024-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413120547/https://www.idg.net/idgns/2001/03/27/DutchPoliceFightsCellPhoneTheft.shtml |archive-date=2001-04-13 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Technical details ==

=== GSM ===
{{Main|Short message service technical realisation (GSM)}}
The ''Short Message Service—Point to Point (SMS-PP)''—was originally defined in GSM recommendation 03.40, which is now maintained in [[3GPP]] as TS 23.040.<ref name="GSM 03.40">{{cite web|url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=141|title=Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS)|id=GSM TS 03.40|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203215922/https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=141|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=747|title=Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS)|id=3GPP TS 23.040|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=7 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207054608/https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=747|url-status=live}}</ref> GSM 03.41 (now 3GPP TS 23.041) defines the ''Short Message Service—Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB)'', which allows messages (advertising, public information, etc.) to be broadcast to all mobile users in a specified geographical area.<ref name="GSM 03.41">{{cite web|url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=142|title=Technical Realization of Short Message Service Cell Broadcast (SMSCB)|id=GSM TS 03.41|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203215908/https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=142|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=748|title=Technical realization of Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)|id=3GPP TS 23.041|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=3 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203215908/https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=748|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Cell broadcast]] is the technology behind [[Wireless Emergency Alerts]] in the US which is used for public safety messages and AMBER alerts,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcc.gov/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea |title=Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) |date=6 May 2014 |publisher=FCC.gov |access-date=2015-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eena.org/ressource/static/files/2011_11_17_one2many.pdf |title=Cell Broadcast ; One2many |publisher=Eena.org |access-date=2015-07-15 |archive-date=2015-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923234130/http://www.eena.org/ressource/static/files/2011_11_17_one2many.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and similar public safety messages in [[Cell broadcast#Public warning implementations|other countries]]. These messages are similar to SMS messages.

Messages are sent to a [[short message service center]] (SMSC), which provides a "[[store and forward]]" mechanism. It attempts to send messages to the SMSC's recipients. If a recipient is not reachable, the SMSC queues the message for later retry.<ref>Gil Held: "Data over Wireless Networks." pages 105–11, 137–38. Wiley, 2001.</ref> Some SMSCs also provide a "forward and forget" option where transmission is tried only once. Both mobile terminated (MT, for messages sent ''to'' a mobile handset) and mobile originating (MO, for those sent ''from'' the mobile handset) operations are supported. Message delivery is "[[best effort]]", so there are no guarantees that a message will actually be delivered to its recipient, but delay or complete loss of a message is uncommon, typically affecting less than 5 percent of messages.<ref>{{citation |url=https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/research/tr/2007/CS-2007-42.pdf |title=Design and Implementation of a Short Message Service Data Channel for Mobile Systems |last=Oliver |first=Earl |access-date=March 14, 2022 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126180516/https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/research/tr/2007/CS-2007-42.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Some providers allow users to request delivery reports, either via the SMS settings of most modern phones, or by prefixing each message with *0#.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 9, 2018|title=Text Message Tips (not sent or received)|url=https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Text-Message-Tips-not-sent-or-received/ba-p/1179723|access-date=September 28, 2021|website=community.o2.co.uk|language=en|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928142837/https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Text-Message-Tips-not-sent-or-received/ba-p/1179723|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Message size ===
Transmission of short messages between the SMSC and the handset is done whenever using the [[Mobile Application Part]] (MAP) of the [[Signaling System 7|SS7]] protocol.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://services.eng.uts.edu.au/userpages/kumbes/public_html/ra/sms/|access-date=October 5, 2013 |last=Amri |first=Kuross |title=Communication Networks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511143408/http://services.eng.uts.edu.au/userpages/kumbes/public%5Fhtml/ra/sms/|archive-date=May 11, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  Messages are sent with the MAP MO- and MT-ForwardSM operations, whose payload length is limited by the constraints of the signaling protocol to precisely 140 [[byte]]s (140 bytes × 8 bits / byte = 1120 bits).

Short messages can be encoded using a variety of alphabets: the default [[GSM 03.38|GSM 7-bit alphabet]], [[GSM 03.38#GSM 8 bit data encoding|the 8-bit data alphabet]], and the 16-bit [[UCS-2]] or [[UTF-16]] alphabets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twilio.com/engineering/2012/11/08/adventures-in-unicode-sms|title=Adventures in Unicode SMS|date=2012-11-08|publisher=Twilio|author=Chad Selph|access-date=2015-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908104520/https://www.twilio.com/engineering/2012/11/08/adventures-in-unicode-sms|archive-date=2015-09-08|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="3GPP 23.038">{{cite web |url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=745 |title=Alphabets and language-specific information |id=3GPP TS 23.038}}</ref> Depending on which alphabet the subscriber has configured in the handset, this leads to the maximum individual short message sizes of 160 7-[[bit]] characters, 140 8-bit characters, or 70 16-bit characters. GSM 7-bit alphabet support is mandatory for GSM handsets and network elements.<ref name="3GPP 23.038"/>

Larger content ([[concatenated SMS]], multipart or segmented SMS, or "long SMS") can be sent using multiple messages, in which case each message will start with a [[User Data Header]] (UDH) containing segmentation information. Since UDH is part of the payload, the number of available characters per segment is lower: 153 for 7-bit encoding, 134 for 8-bit encoding and 67 for 16-bit encoding. The receiving handset is then responsible for reassembling the message and presenting it to the user as one long message. While the standard theoretically permits up to 255 segments,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Groves|first=Ian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/847640648|title=Mobile systems|date=1998|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4615-6377-8|edition=1st|location=London|pages=70, 79, 163–66|oclc=847640648|access-date=2021-09-23|archive-date=2024-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111044135/https://search.worldcat.org/title/847640648|url-status=live}}</ref> 10 segments is the practical maximum with some carriers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.twilio.com/articles/223181508-Does-Twilio-support-concatenated-SMS-messages-or-messages-over-160-characters|title=Does Twilio support concatenated SMS messages or messages over 160 characters?|website=Twilio Help Center|language=en-US|access-date=28 September 2024|quote=when sending very long SMS messages (longer than 10 segments with Unicode characters) some mobile carriers may have trouble handling these messages.}}</ref> and long messages are often billed as equivalent to multiple SMS messages. In some cases 127 segments are supported.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simplifying Unicode punctuation for SMS|url=https://ssb22.user.srcf.net/adjuster/sms.html|access-date=July 15, 2021|website=ssb22.user.srcf.net|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715062556/https://ssb22.user.srcf.net/adjuster/sms.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Interconnectivity with other networks ===
On some carriers non-subscribers can send messages to a subscriber's phone using an [[SMS gateway|Email-to-SMS gateway]]. Additionally, many carriers, including [[AT&T Mobility]], [[T-Mobile USA]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/TzonesDetail.aspx?tp=Svc_Tab_TZones&tsp=Svc_Sub_Messaging&tssp=Svc_Sub_TextMessaging&oscid=4CD51BA7-B5AF-4AB2-85E0-50EC0AF141F9 |title=t-zones text messaging: send and receive messages with mobile text messaging |publisher=T-mobile.com |access-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917095859/http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/addons/services/TzonesDetail.aspx?tp=Svc_Tab_TZones&tsp=Svc_Sub_Messaging&tssp=Svc_Sub_TextMessaging&oscid=4CD51BA7-B5AF-4AB2-85E0-50EC0AF141F9 |archive-date=September 17, 2008 }}</ref> [[Sprint Nextel|Sprint]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://support.sprintpcs.com/doc/sp7648.xml?selectedDeviceId=5707&related=y&Referring%20Related%20DocID%20List%20Index=5&docid=7434&navtypeid=10&pagetypeid=7&prevPageIndex=10 |title=Support – How do I compose and send a text message to a Sprint or Nextel customer from email? |publisher=Support.sprintpcs.com |access-date=September 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020092825/http://support.sprintpcs.com/doc/sp7648.xml?selectedDeviceId=5707&related=y&Referring%20Related%20DocID%20List%20Index=5&docid=7434&navtypeid=10&pagetypeid=7&prevPageIndex=10 |archive-date=October 20, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Verizon Wireless]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Picture%20Messaging/faq_pixmessaging.html#item3 |title=Answers to FAQs – Verizon Wireless Support |publisher=Support.vzw.com |access-date=September 18, 2008 |archive-date=September 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909053230/http://support.vzw.com/faqs/Picture%20Messaging/faq_pixmessaging.html#item3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> offer the ability to do this through their respective websites.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alguliev |first=Rasim Magamed ogly |last2=Nazirova |first2=S. A. |date=2008 |title=Multilayer and Multiagent Automated Email Filtration System |url=https://doi.org/10.1615/telecomradeng.v67.i12.60 |journal=Telecommunications and Radio Engineering |volume=67 |issue=12 |pages=1089–1095 |doi=10.1615/telecomradeng.v67.i12.60 |issn=0040-2508}}</ref>

For example, an AT&T subscriber whose phone number was 555-555-5555 would receive emails addressed to 5555555555@txt.att.net as text messages. Subscribers can easily reply to these SMS messages, and the SMS reply is sent back to the original email address. Sending email to SMS is free for the sender, but the recipient is subject to the standard delivery charges. Only the first 160 characters of an email message can be delivered to a phone, and only 160 characters can be sent from a phone.  However, longer messages may be broken up into multiple texts, depending upon the telephone service provider.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is there a maximum SMS message length? |url=http://www.textanywhere.net/faq/is-there-a-maximum-sms-message-length |publisher=TextAnywhere |access-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508152305/http://www.textanywhere.net/faq/is-there-a-maximum-sms-message-length |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first1=Simon |last1=Hill |first2=Andre |last2=Revilla |date=28 April 2022 |title=How to send a text message from your email account |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-send-a-text-from-your-email-account/ |publisher=Digital Trends |quote=Keep in mind that if you’re trying to send a message that’s more than 160 characters long, it will often be sent through the Multimedia Message Service (MMS). |access-date=3 December 2022 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203221043/https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-send-a-text-from-your-email-account/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Text-enabled fixed-line handsets are required to receive messages in text format. However, messages can be delivered to non enabled phones using [[Speech synthesis|text-to-speech conversion]].<ref name="Voice SMS">{{Cite news |first=John |last=Leyden |date=January 2004 |title=BT trials mobile SMS to voice landline |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/08/bt_trials_mobile_sms |work=[[The Register]] |access-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629212915/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/01/08/bt_trials_mobile_sms |url-status=live }}</ref>

Short messages can send binary content such as [[ringtone]]s or logos, as well as [[Over-the-air programming]] (OTA) or configuration data. Such uses are a vendor-specific extension of the GSM specification and there are multiple competing standards, although [[Nokia]]'s [[Smart message|Smart Messaging]] is common.

GPRS is offered by smaller telco players as a route of sending SMS text to reduce the cost of SMS texting internationally.<ref name="GPRS SMS">{{Cite web |author=Ewan |date=September 1, 2006 |title=10pText.co.uk help you text internationally for 10p/text |url=http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/09/10ptextcouk_hel.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034156/http://www.smstextnews.com/2006/09/10ptextcouk_hel.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |publisher=SMStextnews |access-date=May 8, 2017}}</ref>

=== AT commands ===
Many mobile and satellite [[transceiver]] units support the sending and receiving of SMS using an extended version of the [[Hayes command set]]. The extensions were standardised as part of the GSM Standards and extended as part of the 3GPP standards process.<ref>{{cite web|title=Use of Data Terminal Equipment – Data Circuit terminating Equipment (DTE – DCE) interface for Short Message Service (SMS) and Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)|url=https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=1514|access-date=July 1, 2019|archive-date=February 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216153418/https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=1514|url-status=live}}</ref>

The connection between the terminal equipment and the transceiver can be realized with a serial cable (e.g., [[USB]]), a [[Bluetooth]] link, an [[infrared]] link, etc. Common AT commands include AT+CMGS (send message), AT+CMSS (send message from storage), AT+CMGL (list messages) and AT+CMGR (read message).<ref name="SMS AT extensions">{{cite web|url=http://www.developershome.com/sms/atCommandsIntro.asp|title=SMS Tutorial: Introduction to AT Commands, Basic Commands and Extended Commands|access-date=June 14, 2015|archive-date=May 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509072532/http://www.developershome.com/sms/atCommandsIntro.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, not all modern devices support receiving of messages if the message storage (for instance the device's internal memory) is not accessible using AT commands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Tarun |date=2019-09-18 |title=What are AT Commands : Different Types, and Their List |url=https://www.elprocus.com/at-commands-tutorial/ |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=ElProCus – Electronic Projects for Engineering Students |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516113156/https://www.elprocus.com/at-commands-tutorial/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Premium-rated short messages ===
An alternative to inbound SMS is based on [[long numbers]] (international number format, such as "+44 762 480 5000"), which can be used in place of short codes for SMS reception in several applications, such as TV voting, product promotions and campaigns. Long numbers work internationally, allow businesses to use their own numbers, rather than short codes, which are usually shared across many brands. Additionally, long numbers are nonpremium inbound numbers.<ref name=":0" />

=== Threaded SMS ===
Threaded SMS is a visual styling orientation of SMS message history that arranges messages to and from a contact in chronological order on a single screen. It was first invented by a developer working to implement the SMS client for the BlackBerry, who was looking to make use of the blank screen left below the message on a device with a larger screen capable of displaying far more than the usual 160 characters, and was inspired by threaded Reply conversations in email.<ref>{{US patent|7028263}}</ref>

Visually, this style of representation provides a back-and-forth chat-like history for each individual contact.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.phonescoop.com/glossary/term.php?gid=455 |title=Threaded Messaging |website=Phone Scoop |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>  Hierarchical-threading at the [[Conversation threading#Advantages|conversation-level]] (as typical in blogs and online messaging boards) is not widely supported by SMS messaging clients.  This limitation is due to the fact that there is no [[session identifier]] or subject-line passed back and forth between sent and received messages in the [[Header (computing)|header]] data (as specified by SMS protocol) from which the client device can properly thread an incoming message to a specific dialogue, or even to a specific message within a dialogue.

=== Application-to-person (A2P) SMS ===
While SMS reached its popularity as a person-to-person messaging, another type of SMS is growing fast: application-to-person (A2P) messaging. A2P is a type of SMS sent from a subscriber to an application or sent from an application to a subscriber. It is commonly used by businesses, such as banks, e-gaming, logistic companies, e-commerce, to send SMS messages from their systems to their customers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobip.com/en/glossary/a2p-application-to-person-sms-messaging|title=What is A2P (Application-to-person) SMS Messaging? {{!}} Glossary|website=www.infobip.com|access-date=April 13, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125115455/http://www.infobip.com/en/glossary/a2p-application-to-person-sms-messaging|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the US, carriers have traditionally preferred that A2P messages be sent using a short code rather than a standard [[long code]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sinch.com/learn/what-is-a-short-code/|title=What is a Short Code?|access-date=September 23, 2015|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307140121/https://www.sinch.com/learn/what-is-a-short-code/|url-status=deviated}}</ref> In 2021, US carriers introduced a new service called A2P 10DLC, supporting the used of 10-digit long codes for A2P messages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://smartercontact.com/what-is-10dlc/|title=What is A2P 10DLC and How It Impacts Your Business|date=29 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twilio.com/en-us/blog/what-you-should-know-about-verizons-a2p-10dlc-service|title=What you should know about Verizon's A2P 10DLC Service|website=Twilio}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10DLC Registration: SMS Campaign Approval and Compliance Guide |url=https://www.sent.dm/resources/10dlc-sms-registration |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Sent.dm}}</ref> In the United Kingdom A2P messages can be sent with a dynamic 11 character sender ID; however, short codes are used for OPTOUT commands.

=== Satellite phone networks ===
While early [[Iridium Satellite LLC|Iridium]] handsets only support incoming SMS, later models can also send messages. The price per message varies for different networks. Unlike some mobile phone networks, there is no extra charge for sending international SMS or to send one to a different satellite phone network. SMS can sometimes be sent from areas where the signal is too poor to make a voice call.

Satellite phone networks usually have web-based or email-based SMS portals where one can send free SMS to phones on that particular network.

=== Unreliability ===
Unlike dedicated texting systems like the [[Simple Network Paging Protocol]] and Motorola's ReFLEX protocol,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Dec_20/ai_68271859/ |title=Motorola's ReFLEX Protocol Delivers Wireless Data With Unparelleled Nationwide Network Coverage |date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717132058/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Dec_20/ai_68271859/ |url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012}}</ref> SMS message delivery is not guaranteed, and many implementations provide no mechanism through which a sender can determine whether an SMS message has been delivered in a timely manner.<ref name="cellular-news">{{cite web|url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/33684.php|title=Report Says That SMS is Not Ideal for Emergency Communications|work=cellular-news|access-date=June 14, 2015|archive-date=January 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125055849/http://www.cellular-news.com/story/33684.php?|url-status=live}}</ref> SMS messages are generally treated as lower-priority traffic than voice, and various studies have shown that around 1% to 5% of messages are lost entirely, even during normal operation conditions, and others may not be delivered until long after their relevance has passed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ictworks.org/sms-testing-text-message-delivery-time-and-reliability-tanzania/ |title=SMS Testing: Text Message Delivery Time and Reliability in Tanzania |date=31 August 2011}}</ref> The use of SMS as an emergency notification service in particular has been questioned.<ref name="cellular-news"/>

== Vulnerabilities ==
[[File:SMS Phishing Attack Example.jpg|thumb|An example of a [[phishing]] attack through SMS, showing a fake message and URL claiming to be from [[Apple, Inc.|Apple]]]]
{{see also|Mobile security#Attacks based on SMS and MMS}}
The Global Service for Mobile communications ([[GSM]]), with the greatest worldwide number of users, succumbs to several security vulnerabilities. In the GSM, only the airway traffic between the [[Mobile Station]] (MS) and the [[Base Transceiver Station]] (BTS) is optionally encrypted with a weak and broken [[stream cipher]] ([[A5/1]] or [[A5/2]]). The [[authentication]] is unilateral and also vulnerable. There are also many other security vulnerabilities and shortcomings.<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4756489 |title=Solutions to the GSM Security Weaknesses |book-title=Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Next Generation Mobile Applications, Services, and Technologies (NGMAST2008) |pages=576–581 |location=Cardiff, UK |date=September 2008 |arxiv=1002.3175 |doi=10.1109/NGMAST.2008.88}}</ref> Such vulnerabilities are inherent to SMS as one of the superior and well-tried services with a global availability in the [[GSM]] networks. SMS messaging has some extra security vulnerabilities due to its store-and-forward feature, and the problem of fake SMS that can be conducted via the Internet. When a user is roaming, SMS content passes through different networks, perhaps including the Internet, and is exposed to various vulnerabilities and attacks. Another concern arises when an adversary gets access to a phone and reads the previous unprotected messages.<ref>{{cite conference |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4625610 |title=SSMS – A Secure SMS Messaging Protocol for the M-Payment Systems |book-title=Proceedings of the 13th IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications (ISCC'08) |pages=700–705 |date=July 2008 |arxiv=1002.3171 |doi=10.1109/ISCC.2008.4625610}}</ref>

In October 2005, researchers from [[Pennsylvania State University]] published an analysis of vulnerabilities in SMS-capable cellular networks. The researchers speculated that attackers might exploit the open functionality of these networks to disrupt them or cause them to fail, possibly on a nationwide scale.<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://www.smsanalysis.org/smsanalysis.pdf |title=Exploiting Open Functionality in SMS-Capable Cellular Networks |book-title=Proceedings of the 12th ACM conference on Computer and communications security |pages=393–404 |date=7–11 November 2005 |location=Alexandria, Virginia, USA |doi=10.1145/1102120.1102171 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530001643/http://www.smsanalysis.org/smsanalysis.pdf |archive-date=2009-05-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== SMS spoofing ===
{{main|SMS spoofing}}
The only sure way of detecting and blocking spoofed messages is to screen incoming mobile-originated messages to verify that the sender is a valid subscriber and that the message is coming from a valid and correct location. This can be implemented by adding an intelligent routing function to the network that can query originating subscriber details from the [[home location register]] (HLR) before the message is submitted for delivery. This kind of intelligent routing function is beyond the capabilities of legacy messaging infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openmindnetworks.com/SMSSpoofing.asp |title=An overview on how to stop SMS Spoofing in mobile operator networks (September 9, 2008) |access-date=September 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926182131/http://www.openmindnetworks.com/SMSSpoofing.asp |archive-date=September 26, 2008 }}</ref>

=== Limitation ===
In an effort to limit telemarketers who had taken to bombarding users with hordes of unsolicited messages, India introduced new regulations in September 2011, including a cap of 3,000 SMS messages per subscriber per month, or an average of 100 per subscriber per day.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/asia/3000-sms-a-month-limit-in-india-from-today/467985 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204011520/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/asia/3000-sms-a-month-limit-in-india-from-today/467985 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |title=3,000 SMS a Month Limit in India From Today |date=September 27, 2011 |author=Nirmala Ganapathy |newspaper=Straits Times Indonesia |access-date=November 10, 2011 }}</ref>  Due to representations received from some of the service providers and consumers, [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India|TRAI]] (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has raised this limit to 200 SMS messages per SIM per day in case of [[Prepaid mobile phone|prepaid]] services, and up to 6,000 SMS messages per SIM per month in case of [[postpaid]] services with effect from November 1, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/PressReleases/843/press_release_for_8th_amendmenet.pdf |title=TRAI extends the 100 SMS per day per SIM limit to 200 SMS per day per SIM |access-date=November 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111163646/http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/trai/upload/PressReleases/843/press_release_for_8th_amendmenet.pdf |archive-date=November 11, 2011 }}</ref> However, it was ruled unconstitutional by the Delhi high court, but there are some limitations.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2832402.ece |title=TRAI cap on SMS goes |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=February 24, 2013 |archive-date=December 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212073602/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2832402.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col |colwidth=27em}}
* [[Process driven messaging service]]
* [[Comparison of mobile phone standards]]
* [[Instant messaging]]
* [[Typing#Thumbing|Thumbing]]
* [[Data Coding Scheme]]
* [[Enhanced Messaging Service]] (EMS)
* [[Short message service technical realisation (GSM)]]
* [[SMS hubbing]]
* [[SMS home routing]]
* [[SMS language]]
* [[BCODE]]
* [[Unstructured Supplementary Service Data]]
{{div col end}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|SMS}}
<!-- Do NOT add your SMS service, gateway or blog here. Really, because it will be immediately reverted. -->
* [https://www.3gpp.org/ 3GPP] – the organization that maintains the SMS specification
* [https://standards.iso.org/ittf/PubliclyAvailableStandards/c036050_ISO_IEC_21989_2002(E).zip ISO Standards (In Zip file format)]
* [https://www.unicode.org/Public/MAPPINGS/ETSI/GSM0338.TXT GSM 03.38 to Unicode] – how the GSM 7-bit default alphabet characters map into Unicode
<!-- Do NOT add your SMS service, gateway or blog here. Really, because it will be immediately reverted. -->

{{Mobile phones}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sms}}
[[Category:3GPP standards]]
[[Category:Mobile telecommunication services]]
[[Category:Mobile telecommunications standards]]
[[Category:Text messaging]]
[[Category:Mobile phones]]
[[Category:Communication]]