What Does "SMS" Mean on a Text Message?
SMS stands for Short Message Service. When you see "SMS" in the context of a text message, it refers to the standard, text-only messages that are sent between mobile phones using a cellular network, not the internet
Key Features of SMS
- Text-Only: SMS messages contain only text-letters, numbers, and symbols-with no images, videos, or audio files
- Character Limit: Each SMS message is typically limited to 160 characters. If you use special characters or emojis, the limit may be reduced to 70 characters due to encoding
- Cellular Network: SMS messages are transmitted over the cellular network, not via Wi-Fi or mobile data. This makes them reliable even in areas with limited internet access
- Universal Compatibility: SMS works on virtually all mobile phones, regardless of brand or operating system
- Cost: Depending on your phone plan and carrier, SMS messages may be included for free or charged per message, especially for international texts
SMS vs. Other Messaging Types
Feature| SMS (Short Message Service)| MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)|
Internet-based Apps (e.g., WhatsApp, iMessage)
---|---|---|---
Content| Text only| Text + images, video, audio| Text, media, stickers, etc.
Character Limit| 160| No strict limit| Varies
Network| Cellular only| Cellular only| Internet (Wi-Fi/data)
Device Support| All mobile phones| All modern phones| Only devices with the
app
Summary
If you see "SMS" on a text message, it simply means it is a standard, text- only message sent over your cellular network, limited to 160 characters, and compatible with all mobile phones
