What is SMS

SMS stands for short message service. Simply put, it is a method of communication that sends text messages between cell phones, or from a Personal Computer or handheld to a cell phone. The "short" part refers to the maximum size of the text messages: 160 characters

How it Works

Your phone is constantly sending and receiving information. It is talking to it’s cell phone towers over a pathway called a control channel. The reason for this communication is so the cell phone system knows which cell area your phone is in, and to allow your phone to change cells as you move around.

What Are Control Channels

The control channel provides the pathway for SMS messages. When someone sends a SMS message to you, it flows through the SMSC, (short message service channel), to the tower and then to the recipient’s cell phone as a packet of data. This packet of data is interpreted by the cell phone and displayed.

What Are SMS Advantages

SMS has several advantages; it is more discreet than a phone conversation, it is delivered very quickly and it allows one message to be sent to multiple cell phones. This makes it an ideal form of mass communications.

It is often less time-consuming to send a text message than to make a phone call or send an e-mail. SMS doesn't require you to be at your computer like e-mail and instant messaging (IM) do -- although some phones are equipped for mobile e-mail and IM services.