Cell phones have many, many features nowadays, but one of the very first unique things they could do was SMS. So what’s SMS? More often referred to as “text messaging,” SMS is an alternative to calling that a majority of cell phone owners use on a daily basis. This article will briefly explain the history of SMS, what it is, how it works, and how you can make the most of this popular wireless feature.

What is an SMS message?

An SMS message (AKA a text message) is a text-based way of communicating via wireless device without having to make a phone call. Think of it like a very simple, text only email—except you send it from one phone number to another. 

SMS technology was introduced in the 1980s, and the first official SMS message (which said “Merry Christmas”) was sent in December of 1992.* However, SMS didn’t truly gain popularity until the turn of the century, around the year 2000, when owning cell phones became the norm. Unlike instant messaging (do you remember your AIM away message?), which requires an internet connection, SMS works over cell towers, so you can text someone from anywhere you have a cell signal.

what does SMS stand for? short message service with a purple background

What does SMS stand for?

SMS meaning “Short Message Service,” is almost too on-the-nose, but that’s exactly what it is. With a character limit of 160 (including spaces) and only supporting basic text, SMS is literally a service for sending short messages.

How does SMS work?

So now you know what they are, but how are SMS messages sent? When sending a text message, you choose the contact you wish to send the message to, draft the message, and hit “send.” Your phone sends the message to the nearest cell tower, which then hands it off to the SMSC (Short Message Service Center), a central hub that directs all incoming and outgoing text messages. The SMSC then sends the message to the cell tower nearest the recipient, and that cell tower delivers it to their phone. And this all happens in a matter of seconds. 

differences between SMS vs MMS vs RCS and goes into detail of the differences

SMS vs MMS messages

If you’ve heard of SMS, you’ve likely heard of MMS too. So what is an MMS message? MMS stands for Multimedia Message Service, as in photos and other content beyond just text. We take a deeper dive into MMS in our “What is MMS?” article, if you want to really get into it.

Should I use SMS or MMS?

Whether you should use SMS or MMS depends on what you intend to send or what exactly you’re trying to communicate. SMS works best when sending short messages (under 160 characters) and, depending on your current wireless plan, can be most cost effective. MMS is better for sending longer messages and allows you to attach images, audio files or short videos (that’s the multimedia part of the name).

SMS vs RCS

RCS, which stands for “Rich Communication Services,” is a communications protocol aimed at replacing SMS messages with a much richer text messaging system. RCS allows users to transmit in-call multimedia, provide phonebook polling, and send friends & family other types of content. It also allows for significantly longer messages (up to 8,000 characters), although we still can’t think of a reason to send a single message that long.

SMS advantages: no internet required, high open rate, instant communication, cost effective and SMS disadvantages: character limit, no complex media, no offline access

Advantages of SMS

There are several reasons why SMS is many people’s preferred method of communication:

  • No internet required
    • You can send an SMS with just basic cell signal, and most text messages can get through even when the signal isn’t strong enough for a stable phone call.
  • High open rate
    • People might ignore your calls, but they’re more likely to open a text message. Especially if they’re in a place where they can’t talk out loud, but can still text.
  • Instant communication
    • SMS is especially handy when needing to tell someone something quickly without initiating a phone call (i.e. “I’m on my way”). 
  • Cost effective
    • Many wireless plans include unlimited text messaging, but not unlimited data. So sending an SMS isn’t going to eat into your monthly GB the same way DMing a friend on Instagram might over time. 

Disadvantages of SMS

There are still a few disadvantages to SMS when compared to other messaging options: 

  • Character limit
    • If you have a lot more to say than just “k,” text messaging may not be your best option. Unless you don’t mind being that person that sends 5-7 text messages rapid fire to get out a complete thought. We all have that one friend.
  • No complex media
    • SMS doesn’t support sending anything other than text. So if you’re wanting to show off your new haircut or send a flier for an upcoming concert to a friend, SMS won’t work.
  • No offline access
    • If you find yourself in a place with no signal whatsoever, SMS messages won’t go through, but neither will anything else. If the location has Wi-Fi though, you can send SMS and make calls using that internet connection. You can learn more about that from our “What is Wi-Fi calling?” blog.  

Now you know the 411 on SMS

In conclusion, SMS is one of the oldest and most widely used methods of communicating via cellular phones. And while there are dozens of apps that allow direct messaging between friends & family, SMS is still the go-to for a majority of cell phone users. If you like to text, you should consider switching to Ultra Mobile. Not only does every Ultra Mobile plan include unlimited nationwide talk, they also include unlimited texting to 90+ international destinations. Additionally, all Ultra Mobile plans include unlimited talk & text in Mexico and Canada, if you like traveling beyond either border. Click the link below to see why Ultra Mobile is the way to go for everything you want in wireless. 

*https://www.intradyn.com/text-message-statistics-trends/

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