SMS stands for Short Message Service, and is a text-based message commonly sent by and to mobile phones. It is one of the most common uses for a mobile phone (aside from making phone-calls), and this is because of the ease of using the SMS technology – it can be done just about anywhere (such as in meetings, lectures, or waiting rooms) without interrupting people with loud phone conversations.
Generally these text based messages are also cheaper than phone conversations - a standard SMS usually costs around 10p, whereas a phone conversation has no limit in cost and can be quite expensive to international or high-call-rate numbers. As such, SMS technology has become a popular form of communication amongst the younger generations as it is cheaper and more flexible than phone calls.
In general, an SMS has a set maximum number of characters (usually 160 standard alphanumeric characters), though some of the newer mobile phones allow text messages to flow over unbroken into several standard messages.
In general, an SMS has a set maximum number of characters (usually 160 standard alphanumeric characters), though some of the newer mobile phones allow text messages to flow over unbroken into several standard messages.
The message is written by hitting specific buttons on the mobile phone keypad – most keypads have the numbers 0-9 in large type with smaller type alphabet allotted to specific keys. Newer phones may have alphabet keyboards built in, though this is the exception and not the rule.
Once complete the SMS is sent through the mobile phone network to the set receiver of the message, and the SMS can then be replied to.