Short Message Service (SMS) :

It is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile

communication systems. It uses standardizedcommunications

protocols to allow fixed line or mobile phone devices to exchange short

text messages.

Short message service (SMS) is a globally accepted wireless service.

SMS appeared on the wireless scene in 1991 in Europe.

The European standard for digital wireless, now known as the Global

System for Mobile Communications (GSM), included short messaging

services from the outset.

SMS is the most widely used data application, with an estimated 3.5

billion active users, or about 80% of all mobile phone subscribers. The

term "SMS" is used for all types of short text messaging and the user

activity itself in many parts of the world. SMS is also employed in direct

marketing, known as SMS marketing.

SMS as used on modern handsets originated from radio telegraphy in

radio memo pagers using standardized phone protocols. These were

defined in 1985 as part of the Global System for Mobile

Communications (GSM) series of standards as a means of sending

messages of up to 160 characters to and from GSM mobile

handsets. Though most SMS messages are mobile-to-mobile text

messages, support for the service has expanded to include other mobile

technologies, such as ANSI CDMA networks and Digital AMPS, as well

as satellite and landline networks.

SMS Communication :

Short Message Mobile Terminated (SM-MT) :

SM-MT denotes the capability of the GSM system to send a message

from the SC to a mobile phone where the message is either received, or,

if the recipient device is unavailable, stored for later delivery. A

delivery report or failure report is then sent back to the SC. These

messages may be input to the Service center by other mobile users (via

a mobile originated short message) or by a variety of other sources, for

example, speech, telex, or facsimile.

The classes of SM-MT :

Classes identify the importance of the message importance and the

location where it should be stored. There are four message classes.

Class 0 SMS: This message is displayed on the mobile phone

immediately and a message delivery report is sent back to the SC. The

message does not have to be saved in the mobile phone or on the SIM

card (unless selected to do so by the mobile user). This type is also

referred to as Flash SMS.

Class 1 SMS: This message is stored in the memory of the mobile

phone or the SIM card (depending on memory availability).

Class 2 SMS: This message class is Phase 2-specific and carries SIM

card data. The SIM card data must be successfully transferred prior to

sending acknowledgment to the SC. An error message is sent to the SC

if this transmission is not possible.

Class 3 SMS: This message is forwarded from the receiving entity to an

external device. The delivery acknowledgment is sent to the SC

regardless of whether or not the message was forwarded to the external

device.

Short Message Mobile Originated (SM-MO) : SM-MO denotes the capability of the GSM system to send a message

from an M to an SME via an SC and to provide information to the

mobile phone about the delivery or failure of that message. These

messages may be destined for other mobile users, or for subscribers on

a fixed network.

Application : Person-to-Person Text Messaging

Provision of Information

Downloading

Alerts and Notifications

Two-way Interactive Text Messaging Applications

SMS Marketing