What Is SMS Text?
SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is a widely used text messaging service that allows users to send short text messages-commonly called "texts"-between mobile devices over cellular networks
. Key features of SMS text:
- Text-Only: SMS messages contain only plain text, without images, videos, or other multimedia content
- Character Limit: Each SMS message can contain up to 160 characters if using the standard Latin alphabet. If special characters or non-Latin scripts are used (like Chinese), the limit drops to 70 characters due to encoding requirements
- Network-Based: SMS messages are transmitted over the signaling channels of mobile networks, not requiring an internet connection, which makes them reliable even in areas with limited data coverage
- Universal Compatibility: SMS is supported by virtually all mobile phones and works across different carriers and devices
- Common Uses: SMS is used for personal communication, business notifications, marketing, two-factor authentication, and more
How SMS Works:
- A sender composes a message and enters the recipient’s phone number.
- The message is sent to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which routes it to the recipient’s mobile network.
- The recipient’s device receives and displays the message when available
SMS vs. MMS:
- SMS is for text-only messages.
- MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows sending images, videos, and other media, and does not have the same character limitations as SMS
In summary, an SMS text is a short, text-only message sent between mobile devices using cellular networks, limited to 160 characters for standard text
