SMS

SMS means “Short Message Service” is the text messaging service can be used to send messages on mobile phone. SMS is the the mobile communication system allow to exchange text message of fixed length on mobile services.

SMS is the most widely used data application in the world over 3.5 billion of active user or mobile subscribers. SMS is also used as direct marketing known as SMS marketing. SMS is used in a modern handset originates from radio telegraphy using standardize phone protocol and later called as GSM(Global System for Mobile Communication). GSM Mobile support up to 160 character text.

SMS is widely used by youth, students for communicating and chatting. People send SMS to friends as well as relatives and it is the easier and cheaper services to wish people by sending SMS on special occasion as well as on festivals.

SMS was originally designed as part of GSM but now available on wide range of network including 3G network. In 2010 trillion of messages were sent. This translate 193000 SMS per second.

SMS Features:-

SMS has several unique features as mentioned below. SMS messaging uses the signaling layer, part of the communication channel, so it can not support large amounts of data. Since SMS is currently used predominantly for text-based messages, this works well without any obvious hindrance other than from message length.

1. An SMS message content can be words of characters, numbers, or a combination of both and basic pictures or icons can also be attached in it. But the total length can be up to 160 characters.
2. SMS has store and forward feature also and thus the mobile communication is not between two users but each message has to be routed through an intermediate referred to as SMSC.
3. When an SMS message is sent to one or more receivers, an acknowledgment is guaranteed.
4. Since SMS uses a separate signaling path rather than a dedicated radio channel, messages can be sent simultaneously with voice, data and fax and thus users can send messages during peak hours also without any interruptions
5. The telephone number of the sender of the message is automatically attached with the message itself and thereby facilitates the receiver to know who the sender is and to send a reply.
6. SMS provides means to concatenate several short messages together and compress more than  160 characters of data within a single short message. That is, SMS helps to send multiple messages simultaneously.

Types of SMS:-

1. Simple Text SMS
2. Images SMS
3. Flash SMS
4. Ring tone SMS

simple SMS contain simple alphanumeric text with special symbols. Its cost is low depends on network services you use. Image SMS contain images or photo with fixed size. Its cost is high than simple SMS. Flash SMS contain Special effects, animation, sound etc. its cost is also high. Ring tone SMS contain ring tones or music.

Categories of SMS:-

1. Friendship SMS
2. Love SMS
3. Festival SMS
4. Joke SMS
5. special Day SMS
6. Motivational SMS

There are different categories of SMS including Friendship SMS, love SMS, Motivational SMS, Jokes SMS, Festival SMS such as Ganesha Chaturthi, Diwali, Christmas, Dasara, Navaratri, Gudhipadwa etc. Special day SMS such as Mother's day SMS, independence day SMS, Children Day SMS.

In Modern world, the online SMS service is available to send free SMS on mobile by using internet. There are various sites available such as Way2sms.com, 160by2.com , funsms,net, indiasms.com, smsgupshup.com etc. We have to first register on this site and then we can send thousands of SMS free of cost.

Bulk SMS:-

Originally Convinced in 1999, text marketer recognize the importance of 'Bulk SMS' as a marketing communication channel. Our mission was to be the supplier of choice in the quality Bulk SMS marketplace and provide the best tools at the lowest price possible.

SMS Gateway:-

Rather like the Email to SMS Gateway, demand grew to SMS-enable websites, software and, latterly, apps. Email was good for smaller volumes but larger companies needed a pure SMS Gateway.

We created an SMS Gateway that can be used in virtually any environment. In fact, we pride ourselves on the fact that many companies use our SMS Gateway to become an SMS Marketing Company themselves. There are a range of tools and sample scripts available for the SMS Gateway in PHP,Java, .Net, C#.

Advantage of SMS:-

Modern handsets are now small and easy to transport, this makes sending a text message discrete and almost private. After the evolution of electronic mail it was thought that it was one of the quickest ways to get in contact with another person, but since SMS surfaced it is now used more often and is a lot faster than sending an email. Fun applications such as emoticons and sounds make sending a message fun and more relaxed.

Disadvantage of SMS:-

- Some people use SMS than they actually talk to people. This is an negative point.

- If you want to keep contact with your family or friends who lives in another country, the sending SMS is more costly.