SMS

For other uses, see SMS (disambiguation).
For text messaging in general, see Text messaging.
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 phones exchange short text messages, typically transmitted over cellular networks.

Developed as part of the GSM standards, and based on the SS7 signalling protocol, SMS rolled out on digital cellular networks starting in 1993[1] and was originally intended for customers to receive alerts from their carrier/operator.[2] The service allows users to send and receive text messages of up to 160 characters,[a] originally to and from GSM phones and later also CDMA and Digital AMPS;[3] it has since been defined and supported on newer networks,[4] including present-day 5G ones. Using SMS gateways, messages can be transmitted over the Internet through an SMSC, allowing communication to computers, fixed landlines, and satellite.[5] 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),[6] two-factor authentication logging-in,[7] televoting,[8] mobile banking (see SMS banking), and for other commercial content.[9] 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.[10] More recently, SMS has become increasingly challenged by newer proprietary instant messaging services;[11] RCS has been designated as the potential open standard successor to SMS.[12]

  1. ^ O'Mahony, Jennifer (3 December 2012). "How SMS Changed the World". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. ^ "A short history of SMS for anyone working in Telecommunications". www.dynamicmobilebilling.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  3. ^ "When First SMS Was Sent". Play GK Quiz. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Ghribi, Brahim; Logrippo, Luigi (November 2000). "Understanding GPRS: The GSM Packet Radio Service" (PDF). Computer Networks (journal). 34 (5): 763–779. doi:10.1016/S1389-1286(00)00127-4 – via University of Ottawa.
  5. ^ "How SMS gateway works". Ozeki SMS Gateway. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  6. ^ Black, Ken (September 13, 2016). "What is SMS Marketing?". wiseGEEK. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "What is SMS 2FA? | Security Encyclopedia". www.hypr.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  8. ^ "Eurovision facts and figures". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  9. ^ "Short Message Service (SMS) in Fixed and Mobile Networks". European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations. July 2004.
  10. ^ "The World Today – The rise of 3G" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  11. ^ Features, Chris Gayomali last updated in (2012-12-03). "The text message turns 20: A brief history of SMS". theweek. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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