SMS

SMS stands for short message service and is also called texting or text messaging. SMS messages or ‘texts’ are usually sent from one mobile phone to another, but can also be sent from some home phones. It is a quick and convenient way of sending a short message to someone.

How does SMS work?

Cell phones are always sending and receiving information through signals even when the phone isn't in use. The signals are sent and received from a cell phone tower or control channel. In order for the phone calls and messages to come through, the control channel needs to know which phone belongs to which phone number. Depending on the location of the cell phone, it will communicate with different towers as the user moves around the city, state, country and even the world. If the phone is unable to communicate with a tower, then it will not receive a signal and can't be used.

The control channel maps the path for SMS, or text messages. When a message is sent, it first must go through the nearby tower and then the SMS center. The SMSC receives the message and sends it to the appropriate tower closest to the location of the cell phone and then to the destination. SMS formats the message in a way that it is able to travel to and from the town, and still be received by the cell phone. SMS also sends data associated with the message, such as the length of the message, destination, format and time stamp.
The messages are sent using the Short Messaging Service, which limits each message to no more than 160 characters (including letters, spaces, and symbols).


How SMS changed and influenced the world?

Neil Papworth sent the first SMS message in 1992. Years later, sending short messages via mobile became a focus for telecoms companies in the UK. Vodafone launched text messaging in 1994 and this gained instant popularity. By January 2001, texts sent in a month hit a billion in the UK and last year, 150 trillion messages were sent.

SMS is widely used in businesss industry as it helps deliver good customer service. For example, it allows businesess to reach their customers and notify them with their new products or new offers. This is an easy and quick way to send information to their customers without the nees of calling them or the need to talk to them face to face.

The growth of text messaging has also affected the ability to write and speak in English. This has produced various ways of spelling of words like 'feb' for February and 'ur' for the word your. Text messaging or the use of mobile phones in general is strictly prohibited during school exams and lessons. This is because mobile phones can be used for cheating.

Text messaging is now the most popular way of communication. The traditional phone call and face to face communication have declined. However text messaging is under threat from applications such as Viber, WhatsApp, Line, Tango and many more that offer free text messaging, free phone call and free video call that can only be used with internet.



Source:
www.bbc.co.uk/webwise
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/9718336/Text-messaging-at-20-how-SMS-changed-the-world.html
http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_6501816_text-ability-write-speak-english_.html