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What is the full form of SMS?

Full form of SMS: Here, we are going to learn about the SMS, full form of SMS, overview, history, advantages and disadvantages. By Anushree Goswami Last updated : March 26, 2024

SMS: Short Message Service

SMS is an abbreviation of Short Message Service. Short Message Service is a service of text messaging which uses a communication protocol that authorizes to send text messages from one mobile device to the other.

A user can send text SMS by mobile phones, smartphones, computer systems with web, handheld devices, etc. All companies of telecommunication like Idea, Vodafone, Airtel, Aircel, BSNL, etc. make available for using the amenity of sending SMS.

At the end of 2007, SMS was a data application which greatly used in the majority of the whole world with an approximated 3.5 billion active users which keeps the 80% part of all mobile subscribers. It was from the beginning created as a part of GSM, but its availability now also on CDMA phones. The highest extent of a specific message goes up to 160 alpha-numeric 7 bits characters, in the case of 5-bit mode, 224 characters are supported.

History of Short Message Service

At the beginning of the 1980s, the First abstract idea of SMS came into existence. In 1984, it was designed and created in the Franco-German GSM cooperation by Friedhelm Hillebrand and Bernard Ghillebiert. Then, a plan was launched by the CEPT group GSM to comprise the exchange of text messages from one mobile station to another through the use of message handling systems at that time.

Advantages of Short Message Service

• SMS is the quickest way to reach anyone as it requires less time to communicate.
• To view your previous or old messages, the communication history of messages is logged automatically.
• In sending the information, It is a very courteous and cost effectual way.
• Automation of SMS notifications can be possible.
• As per mobile settings, A user can save SMS messages for the desired period. A user can also set the expiration timing of messages as per the desired option.
• Default words, which are given makes typing messages easier and more comfortable for users.

Disadvantages of Short Message Service

• 160 characters are the limited size of SMS. This does not enable the user to send very lengthy text messages. To deliver his/her complete expressions, a user has to convey out a lot of SMS messages.
• The delivery of messages to its destination is not guaranteed by SMS service. The delivery can happen anytime, sometimes very late due to huge traffic over the network.
• To check that the receiver has read the SMS or not is not possible in SMS messaging communication.
• For advertising purposes, Unwanted SMSs frequently irritate mobile phone users because of the broadcasting of these messages.