>
New Topic
>
Reply<
Esato Forum Index
>
General discussions >
General
> How Text Messages Work
Bookmark topic
TEXT messaging is also known as SMS, which stands for Short Messaging Service. The technology behind it has been around since 1991 - long before most of us had mobile phones and when they weighed as much as house bricks.
When you send a text message it goes to your mobile network's SMSC - Short Message Service Centre - which then forwards it to the other person's phone number when it becomes available.
If the other phone is out of contact, the message is stored on the SMSC's computers until the phone is either switched on or comes into range of a mobile phone transmitter almost any where in the world. Phones equipped with GSM (Global System for Mobiles) can send and receive international texts much more cheaply than standard models.
In a standard English SMS you can use 160 characters per message... this drops to a round 70 for people who use Arabic or Chinese alphabets.
source
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 09:42:49
Edit :
Quote
thats a fairly basic description but then what more would Sunday Mirror readers want
Short Message Service @wiki
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 09:45:58
Edit :
Quote
That was failry basic. I'd expect a better post from you axxxr... your a legend round these forums.
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:00:04
Edit :
Quote
Indeed it is basic,wasn't my intention to post a detailed explanation of SMS,as masseur highlighted its just the sunday mirror's explanation of it.
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:06:03
Edit :
Quote
goldenface Online Posts: > 500
I thought the wiki article was quite interesting.
The growth has been phenomenal 500 billion sent in 2004!
If only the operators had not restricted MMS parameters it might have turned out better. Its pathetic the way some of them charge for each item or page and some limit the size to 100kb. (sorry for going off topic
)
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:21:48
Edit :
Quote
incdently how much does it actualy cost the phone company to send a txt for you?
This message was posted from a P900
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:42:18
Edit :
Quote
goldenface Online Posts: > 500
12p - t-mobile.
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:48:30
Edit :
Quote
lol no i mean how much does it cost the phone company to provide you with a txt i heard it as somthing ridiculous like 0.01 of a penny
This message was posted from a P900
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:51:23
Edit :
Quote
Quote:
On 2006-11-20 10:42:18, Greggy wrote:
incdently how much does it actualy cost the phone company to send a txt for you?
This message was posted from a P900
I believe it costs them... A BIG FAT NOTHING. As I heard somewhere it was initially an emergencey messaging system? And as they charge between 10p and 15p, its pure profit to them.... I might be wrong though.
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 10:53:32
Edit :
Quote
goldenface Online Posts: > 500
@Greggy
I'll wake up now!
It must cost next to nothing. A few bytes of data?
Nothing apart from the cost of maintaining the network I should imagine.
--
Posted: 2006-11-20 11:18:40
Edit :
Quote
New Topic
Reply
