Long-SMS messages have been around for many years, allowing for back-to-back SMS messages to be combined into longer texts. The SMS standard defines what information is sent in a text message, what bits of binary code make up each letter, and how this data is organized so that sending and receiving devices can communicate with each other.
The actual data format for the message includes things like the length of the message, a timestamp, the destination phone number, and the actual message of course.
These details are described by the protocol description unit PDU , which takes the form of a string of hexadecimal-octets and semi decimal-octets. The important thing is what information the PDU includes.
The length of the information also has to be defined in the string, so that the receiver knows exactly what to look for. After the sender and receiver information comes a protocol identifier and a tag to identify the data encoding scheme used in the message, allowing different receivers to know how to decode the actual message.
This is important as it enables the use of unique character schemes used by languages around the world. As for the message itself, as already mentioned it can contain up to characters, where each character is defined by the 7-bits GSM alphabet that covers Latin and Greek letters.
The diagram below might help explain this whole standard a little better. SMS primarily transmits information through a standard cellular connection. When you send an SMS message, the message gets transmitted from the sending device to the nearest cell tower. All this can be achieved using the same cellular infrastructure that cell phones use for phone calls. Also, using this established cellular network is why SMS messages are compatible with so many devices.
The technology required for this connection is relatively simple and can be built into just about any device. Even with the limitations, though, SMS is still an excellent channel for all sorts of business communication. SMS integration automates as much of the process of sending messages as possible. In short, SMS integration is having a computer send messages rather than having a human do it manually.
That way SMS messages can be initiated by those other business systems and apps, rather than the SMS messaging software itself. If you need to send out hundreds or thousands of messages, manual text messaging is not an efficient option. SMS integration is the most efficient way for businesses to use SMS messaging for customer communication in contexts where a custom message is not required.
SMS messaging works very well in many contexts. But SMS has its limitations. And there are contexts where SMS is a great way to connect with people. The basic criteria for determining when you should use SMS or MMS is based on what sort of content you need to include in your message. If you can accomplish your goal with just text, SMS is the better option. Select from our collection of content types to easily find what you are after. Resources Hub Filter by category Filter by type.
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Ready to go? The easiest way to send engaging messages to your customers Start messaging for free. The message will remain stored on your friend's SIM card until he deletes it. In addition to person-to-person messages, SMS can be used to send a message to a large number of people at a time, either from a list of contacts or to all the users within a particular area. This service is called broadcasting and is used by companies to contact groups of employees or by online services to distribute news and other information to subscribers.
In a University of Plymouth study on the psychology of SMS users, researchers found that mobile phone users were primarily either "texters" or "talkers. The texters preferred SMS to voice calls for its convenience as well as for the ability to review a message before sending it. Companies have come up with many uses for the service beyond just your typical person-to-person message.
Because SMS doesn't overload the network as much as phone calls, it is frequently used by TV shows to let viewers vote on a poll topic or for a contestant. You can use text messaging subscription services to get medication reminders sent to your phone, along with weather alerts, news headlines or even novels broken into character "chapters. Social networking services such as Dodgeball use SMS to alert people who live in big cities when their friends or crushes are nearby.
The possibilities for integrating SMS into your lifestyle seem endless. Next, we'll discuss the disadvantages of SMS and look at some alternative communication technologies. SMS was created during the late s to work with a digital technology called GSM global system for mobile communications , which is the basis for most modern cell phones. The Norwegian engineers who invented it wanted a very simple messaging system that worked when users' mobile phones were turned off or out of signal range.
Even today, texting enjoys much greater popularity in Europe, though its stateside use is on the rise. A July study found that 37 percent of U. Despite their popularity, short messaging services have received some criticism. Here are a few of the disadvantages of SMS:. Alternative messaging services allow for more elaborate types of messages. MMS Multimedia Messaging Service allows you to send animations, audio and video files in addition to text. However, the cost per message will be higher.
This can be in the form of software that's pre-installed on your phone, or you can use WAP Wireless Application Protocol to access the Internet and sign into your IM account. You can use it to send instant messages or actual e-mails from your phone.
A common complaint about SMS is its inefficient delivery structure -- when the message center is backed up, messages take longer to reach their destination. To learn more about SMS and other forms of mobile communication, check out the links on the following page.
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