What Does SMS Mean? - Definition, Standards, and More

SMS Definition

We are all familiar with SMS messages; after all, it is one of the oldest and most widely used methods of mobile communication.

To begin with, SMS stands for Short Message Service, a protocol used to send short messages over wireless networks.

Unlike many services currently in use, such as MMS and other data-based services, SMS still works on the fundamental voice network and is

based on the three major network technologies, GSM, CDMA, and TDMA, making it in universal service.

SMS allows text messages of 160 characters (letters, numbers, and symbols) in length.

And also, for other alphabets, such as Chinese or Arabic, the maximum message size is limited to only 70 characters.

The SMS standard

The SMS standard defines what information sent in a text message, what bits of binary code make up each letter.

And also, How this information organize so that sending and receiving devices can communicate with each other.

The definite data format for the message includes things like the length of the message, a timestamp, the destination phone number, and the actual message, of course.

These particulars are described by the Protocol Description Unit (PDU), Which takes the form of a string of hexadecimal octets and semi-decimal octets.

Hexadecimal values found in base 16, with 0-9 to represent values from zero to nine, and A, B, C, D, E, and F to represent values from ten to fifteen.

Sending the Data

As for the actual transmission of an SMS, the text message from the sending mobile device stored in a central SMC, which then forwards the
message to the desired destination.

Since SMS messaging uses a separate channel, generally used for the transfer of control messages to transfer your packets, voice and data calls will not be interrupted by the SMS transfer.

This control channel generally uses to track the cell your phone is currently. And also, allowing you to change cells on the go and so calls and messages can route to the right phones in the right locations.

It keeps a track of the user’s location so that incoming calls and messages can route to the correct network tower.

SMS may have been the backbone of fast writing communications for decades. Still, the standard faces increasing competition from alternative messaging services.