SMS answering, also known as small message service has become wildly popular in recent years. Known by it’s more popular name, text messaging, the number of text messages has jumped to approximately 4.1 trillion messages a year since it’s introduction in 1992. Although most cell phone users text message, few know how the system works. Text messaging is a relatively new technology as it required not only mobile telephones sophisticated enough to receive viewable messages, but a means of transmission strong enough to receive and send megabytes of date correctly without the use of wires. It was not until 1992 that the German company GSM that the technology moved from the idealistic innovation stage to a more practical format.
The first problem presented by the text messaging idea was the need to find a size of data large enough to be practical as a messaging system but small enough to fit into the cell phone without overloading or overworking it. After different sizes were experimented with, the 140 byte size, which translated to approximately 160 characters was used. This is still the norm for text message sizes today. A secondary issue was attempting to transmit the data. Before a text message is readable, it is broken down from the characters visible the sender or recipient as a long string of numbers corresponding to each character or space. These are then sent digitally from one phone to another (hence the need for small messages, to allow this to be a time sensitive messaging system) and decoded by the same application.
SMS messaging is used by 74% of all cell phone users, most of them under the age of 25. It is a great way to transmit quick messages and is becoming the way businesses communicate. In fact, SMS is the preferred method of transmission for answering services to reach their customers. It is extremely popular, and easy to understand.
Nicolas DAlleva is the owner of Specialty Answering Service, a virtual office services for national and international businesses.
15 Comments
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Blake
August 3, 2011 at 2:42 am
You know, I’ve never actually given much thought to when text message became available or how it was invented.
It certainly has become a great means of communication for business and personal use. I’ve even considered using text messaging as a means of business marketing
Mark
August 3, 2011 at 10:40 am
All I can say is…thank goodness that phones have actual keyboards these days.
Typing on those 9-digit keypads forced people to use initial-isms and acronyms which ruined everyone’s ability to spell.
LOL
Mark
Jamal
August 4, 2011 at 5:06 am
Text messaging has given business persons very cheap and reliable service. By using text messaging we can save time as well as energy.
terry
August 4, 2011 at 5:10 am
I never knew all those facts about text messaging.. well.. small innovations back then are really still beneficial today.. very grateful for them..
jorge
August 4, 2011 at 5:11 am
I never knew all those facts about text messaging.. well.. small innovations back then are really still beneficial today.. very grateful for them..
Janis Gagliardi
August 5, 2011 at 10:09 am
Its true, cell phone users still love to send and receive sms however, texting during an emergency or texting to convey a long message doesn’t look sensible. Also, one disadvantage is, it can wreck your spelling ability. Acd, to reports most users who likes to send sms are teens and younger adults.
kevin
August 5, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I definitely agree with you on that janis.. it will deteriorate your correct spelling ability.. I’m actually a victim.. but it can be minimized if you are always exposed to correctly spelled words too.. reading you newspaper, magazine and favorite blogs will help..
Jon
August 5, 2011 at 8:01 pm
I am not a big fan of SMS or text messages. I think it is stupid. Why take 20 minutes to type a conversation when you can dial a phone and convey what you need to in 30 seconds?
Smith
August 6, 2011 at 11:51 am
I have enjoyed while this post about SMS. Before reading this post we only use to do SMS but do not know its anatomy but now knowledge with is us.
adh
August 6, 2011 at 11:58 am
You have shared a complete new aspect of texting and SMS. Current scenario is completely as compared to the trends that took place before the arrival of smartphones in technology. Apps and especially android based apps has opened a new door Texting addicts.
joe
August 6, 2011 at 3:22 pm
perhaps the new addicts will not be of texts too..
GED
August 11, 2011 at 7:42 am
Great post, you have pointed out some superb details, I will tell my friends that this is a very informative blog thanks
Khan
August 13, 2011 at 5:46 am
SMS has made the business world more fast and reliable.Now overhead cost in business has reduced because of SMS technology.
Reeha
August 22, 2011 at 1:43 pm
text messaging saves our lot of dollars per month which we can spend on calls it also enhances business in long sense,
briant
August 24, 2011 at 3:28 am
It is nice to look back on theses advancements and reminisce how it made changes to almost everyone’s lives..