What is SMS? Everything you need to know about SMS for tech-savvy users.

All technology users worldwide have been using SMS as a means of communication, but when asked what SMS is, many people still cannot understand and define it clearly. This article will provide you with A-Z information related to SMS.

What is SMS? 

SMS is short for “Short Message Services,” which means short message service. SMS is a telecommunications protocol that allows users to send messages over a wireless network. The content of an SMS message must not exceed 160 characters and, if in Vietnamese with accents, is limited to a maximum of 70 characters. The number of characters in each SMS message will vary depending on the language of each country.

All mobile network operators in Vietnam currently provide SMS messaging services, so all you need is a SIM card to use it. Although instant messaging through social networks like Facebook, Zalo, Instagram, etc. is becoming more and more popular, many people still send text messages via SMS, especially the elderly and regular mobile phone users.

History of SMS

In addition to learning about what SMS is, you should also have a brief understanding of the history of SMS development. Below, FPT Shop will highlight a few milestones and important events.

The concept of SMS was first developed by the Franco-German GSM company in 1984.

In 1992, the first SMS message was sent by Neil Papworth, a developer at Sema Group Telecoms. At that time, mobile phones with keyboards had not yet been introduced, so he had to type the message on a PC and send it to a friend of his at Vodafone.

At that time, mobile phones still did not have the feature to send text messages, so the first SMS gateways for mobile phones were usually voice mail notifications or network alerts.

How does SMS messaging work?

If we call Short Message Services a express delivery service, then characters will play the role of goods sent from the sender to the receiver. The characters in an SMS message will be transferred and stored at the SMS storage center (SMC) of the network operator. Based on the location of the SMS-receiving subscriber’s Home Location Register (HLR), the SMC will send the data contained in the SMS to the nearest mobile station of that subscriber before forwarding it to the desired phone number. 

The process of sending and receiving an SMS message is lengthy but happens very quickly, which is why you can receive an SMS almost immediately after the sender presses the send command.

What are the advantages of SMS messaging?

Although there are many multimedia messaging services such as Messenger, Zalo, Viber, etc. that require users to have an internet connection to use them, SMS messaging still has its place. The advantages of SMS messaging are evident in the following points:

• Multimedia messaging services like Messenger, Zalo, Viber, etc. require users to have an internet connection to use them. However, with its good performance on all three basic mobile platforms: GSM, CDMA, and TDMA, all mobile phone users only need to be in an area with coverage to use this service.
• The current mobile phone user population in Vietnam is over 94%, and all mobile subscribers can receive SMS messages. Therefore, when important information needs to be widely disseminated for alerts, using SMS messaging will quickly deliver the necessary content to almost the entire population.

• Because of its strong coverage, SMS advertising (SMS Marketing) is a very important marketing channel for many businesses. According to statistics, the percentage of users who open and view advertising emails is only about 20-40%, but almost 100% of users open and view SMS messages when they receive them. In addition, SMS Marketing has a low investment cost, so if used correctly, it can bring great results.

The role of SMS messaging

The emergence of SMS messaging helps information transmission to be fast and secure. Furthermore, this service also helps customers quickly update information about social media accounts or bank accounts, e-wallets, etc.

For example, when you want to change the password for an e-wallet or social media account, you will receive a verification code sent via SMS. Without that verification code, the operation cannot be completed. Therefore, considering a wider scope, SMS messaging helps ensure better data security.

The advent of SMS messaging also changes the way of long-distance communication. Instead of sending letters by hand, sending SMS messages is faster and more efficient. Although there are now many platforms that allow free messaging and online chatting like Zalo, Facebook, Line, Telegram, etc., SMS messaging still holds a certain place.

How popular is SMS messaging?

SMS messaging is used almost everywhere in the world. It not only serves as a means of communication between people but also helps organizations and businesses communicate and reach customers.

In the United States, people use SMS messaging even more than making phone calls (according to statistics compiled in the second quarter of 2008, the average person sends 357 text messages per month compared to 204 phone calls per month).

Common types of SMS messages

SMS messages can be classified into several popular types as follows:

Brandname SMS

Brandname SMS refers to messages from a brand. It is considered a marketing solution through messages that businesses use to promote their products and services to customers.

In this case, the sender’s name will be the name of the company or brand instead of a specific phone number. Through this form, businesses can announce ongoing major promotions or information about products/services, etc.

Messages sent from specific numbers

Different from brandname messages, these messages are also sent by businesses but in the form of specific mobile numbers like 6xxx, 8xxx, 09xxxxx, etc. Although their recognition is not high, their advantage is cost-saving.

Some businesses send messages to customers through random mobile numbers, meaning that each customer will see a different number even though the message content is the same. This type has the lowest cost but in return has lower brand recognition and stability.

Multimedia SMS messages

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) allows users to send messages in the form of images, sounds, and animated images to the recipient.

Flash SMS – USSD

Flash SMS is not much different from regular text messages; however, they are sent directly to the main screen of the recipient’s phone. You can read and interact with the message right on the main screen without accessing the inbox.

USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. This is a high-speed interactive form based on the GSM platform. Through it, the subscriber can interact with the network operator.

Answers to some frequently asked questions about SMS

How many mobile network operators are there in Vietnam?

Currently, there are a total of 7 mobile network operators in Vietnam, including Viettel, MobiFone, VinaPhone, Vietnamobile, and 3 network operators without infrastructure, namely Itelecom, Local, Wintel.

If I send an SMS to a subscriber whose phone is turned off or cannot be contacted, will the SMS be canceled?

An SMS message will not be canceled if the subscriber you are sending to has their phone turned off or is busy. The message will be delivered once the phone of that subscriber is turned back on.

How long can an SMS message be?

In each country, the maximum number of characters for each SMS message is different. For example, in Vietnam, if you send a text message without accents (including spaces), a single SMS message can have up to 160 characters. In the case of text messages in Vietnamese with accents, the maximum is 70 characters.

Conclusion

Above are helpful information to answer what SMS is, what types of SMS messages there are, and the role of SMS messages in life. If you find this article helpful, don’t hesitate to share it with your loved ones and friends.

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