SMS facts for kids

A mobile receiving a text message.

An SMS, or short messaging service is a type of communication used in mobile phones. They are more commonly called 'text messages'. With SMS, someone can send text to another person.

SMS can be slow, as a network gives priority to phone calls, and only carries text messages after calls are handled. There is also a limit of 160 characters that a text message can send. Longer messages than this will be sent as multiple messages, where the sender has to pay for each individual message.

Text messages are often sent between phone users when an actual phone call is not wanted or needed. For example, they may be used in a situation where silence is needed, or to send something private that one person does not want people near them to hear. Message price depends on the phone network of the user. Some mobile phone plans allow for unlimited texting.

Images for kids

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  An SMS message written on a Motorola RAZR V3

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  A Siemens wireless landline telephone that is capable of SMS

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  An example of a phishing attack through SMS, showing a fake message and URL claiming to be from Apple

See also

In Spanish: Servicio de mensajes cortos para niños