SMS -> What is SMS?

The Short Message Service (SMS) is the ability to send and receive text messages to and from mobile telephones. The text can comprise of words or numbers or an alphanumeric combination. 

SMS was created as part of the GSM Phase 1 standard. The first short message is believed to have been sent in December 1992 from a Personal Computer (PC) to a mobile phone on the Vodafone GSM network in the UK. Each short message is up to 160 characters is length when Latin alphabets are used, and 70 characters in length when non-Latin alphabets such as Arabic and Chinese are used.

There is no doubting the success of the Short Message Service- the market in Europe alone has reached over three billion short messages per month despite little proactive marketing by network operators and phone manufacturers. Key market drivers over the next two years such as the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) will continue this growth path.

For a relatively simple messaging service, there certainly are a lot of elements that need to be taken into account when developing and deploying SMS! However operators who take the time and trouble to invest in SMS will find appreciative customers and appreciating revenues. 

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