Full Form of SMS: Meaning, History, and How It Works

The full form of SMS is Short Message Service. It is the standard for sending short, text-only messages between mobile phones over the cellular network, and most people simply call these messages "texts." A single SMS holds up to 160 standard characters or 70 Unicode characters.

What Does SMS Stand For?

SMS stands for Short Message Service. "Short" refers to the small size of each message, and "service" refers to the mobile-network feature that carries it.

A standard SMS travels over the cellular network, so a phone can send and receive it without an internet connection.

The first SMS was sent on 3 December 1992. Neil Papworth, an engineer at Sema Group, sent "Merry Christmas" from a computer to Richard Jarvis at Vodafone (Vodafone).

What Does SMS Mean in Everyday Use?

In everyday use, SMS means a plain text message sent from one phone number to another. The SMS meaning most people need is simply a text that goes through your mobile operator rather than an internet app.

SMS vs. text message

The two terms mean the same thing in daily conversation. SMS is the technical name and "text message" is the casual one. Messages sent through apps such as iMessage or WhatsApp are also called texts by many people, but they travel over the internet and are not SMS.

SMS vs. MMS

MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service. SMS carries text only, while MMS carries media such as pictures, video and audio. Most default messaging apps switch to MMS when a picture, video or audio clip is attached and the message goes over the carrier network. Messages sent over iMessage or RCS do not switch to MMS.

For related basics, see our more SMS guides.

How Long Can an SMS Message Be?

One SMS holds 140 bytes, which is 160 characters in the standard GSM-7 alphabet or 70 characters in Unicode (3GPP TS 23.038 and TS 23.040). To check any message live, use the SMS character counter.

Standard character limit

The character limit for SMS messages in the standard GSM-7 alphabet is 160. GSM-7 covers basic Latin letters, digits and common punctuation. Urdu typed in Latin letters (Roman Urdu) stays in this alphabet unless it contains characters outside GSM-7.

Unicode SMS character limit

The Unicode SMS character limit is 70 characters per message. Phones use Unicode (UCS-2) when a message contains characters that GSM-7 does not cover. Any Urdu-script letter, emoji or "smart" curly punctuation switches the whole message to Unicode, not just that character. One emoji in an otherwise standard 100-character message moves it to the 70-character limit, so it needs two parts.

What happens when a message goes over the limit

The message is split into parts, and the receiving phone usually shows them as one message. Each part carries a header that links it to the others, so each holds fewer characters: 153 in GSM-7 or 67 in Unicode. A 161-character standard message therefore sends as two parts. Some providers charge per part, so a longer message can cost more than a short one. Check your provider's terms.

How to Count SMS Characters Before You Send

Counting takes under a minute:

1. Write the final text, including any name, link or opt-out line.

2. Paste it into the character counter.

3. Compare the SMS character count with 160 for standard text or 70 for Unicode. Past that, use 153 or 67 per part.

4. Remove emoji or curly quotes to stay on the standard alphabet, or shorten the text to stay in one part.

Counting matters because a message that runs over splits into parts, and long texts are harder to read on a phone. If you merge names into a template, count the longest version you expect.

How to Send an SMS Online

You can send an SMS online with a web-based online SMS sender or with software connected to an SMS gateway. Both hand the text to a mobile network, which delivers it to the phone number. Send only to people who have agreed to receive your messages.

Personal messaging apps vs. online SMS senders

Your phone's messaging app sends SMS through your SIM card and mobile plan. WhatsApp and similar apps send over the internet and are not SMS. An online SMS sender is a web page or app where you enter a number and a message, and a provider delivers it as an SMS. The recipient only needs a phone that can receive SMS.

To choose a channel, read the SMS vs WhatsApp comparison. To plan the cost of sending to a list, try the SMS cost estimator.

What an SMS gateway is

An SMS gateway is a service that connects software, such as a website, app or business system, to mobile networks so it can send and receive SMS. Businesses use gateways for one-time passcodes (OTPs), appointment reminders and alerts. A gateway is usually reached through an API, which lets one program talk to another, or through a web dashboard. Online SMS tools range from one-off senders to full gateways.

Where to Get an SMS Gateway or Bulk SMS Service

You can get an SMS gateway or bulk SMS service from several types of provider:

• Your mobile operator. Ask whether it offers a corporate or business SMS service.

• Global API platforms such as Twilio and Infobip, which let developers send SMS from code.

• Local bulk SMS providers that let you send to contact lists from a dashboard.

WaSMS is one more option to compare. WaSMS is run by the same team as this site.

Whichever you compare, check coverage in your country, delivery reporting, sender ID rules and terms of service, and ask each provider for its current pricing.

Sources

• Vodafone Newsroom, the first text message, sent 3 December 1992: https://www.vodafone.com/news/newsroom/technology/25-anniversary-text-message

• 3GPP TS 23.038, Alphabets and language-specific information: https://www.3gpp.org/DynaReport/23038.htm

• 3GPP TS 23.040, Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS): https://www.3gpp.org/DynaReport/23040.htm

What is the full form of SMS?

The full form of SMS is Short Message Service. It is the standard for sending short, text-only messages between mobile phones over the cellular network. The first SMS was sent on 3 December 1992.

What does SMS mean in texting?

In texting, SMS means a plain text message sent from one phone number to another through the mobile network. It differs from messages sent over the internet through apps such as WhatsApp or iMessage. Most people use SMS and text message interchangeably.

How many characters can one SMS message contain?

One SMS holds 140 bytes, which is 160 characters in the standard GSM-7 alphabet or 70 characters in Unicode. Longer messages are split into parts of 153 GSM-7 or 67 Unicode characters. FreeSMSGateway's SMS character counter lets you check the length of your own message.

What is the difference between SMS and MMS?

SMS (Short Message Service) carries text only. MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) carries media such as pictures, video and audio. Most default messaging apps switch to MMS when media is attached and the message goes over the carrier network.

Can I send an SMS online?

Yes. An online SMS sender lets you enter a phone number and a message on a web page or in an app, and a provider delivers it to the phone as an SMS. Businesses automate this through an SMS gateway. Send only to people who have agreed to receive your messages.

What is an SMS gateway?

An SMS gateway is a service that connects software, such as a website, app or business system, to mobile networks so it can send and receive SMS. It is typically used for one-time passcodes, reminders and alerts. Access is usually through an API or a web dashboard.

Check how many characters your message uses with the free SMS character counter.