Text messaging

Text messaging, or texting, is the act of sending electronic messages between mobile phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, desktops, laptops, or other compatible devices. These messages can be sent over a cellular network, satellite, or Internet connection.

Originally, texting used the Short Message Service (SMS) on mobile devices. Over time, it expanded to include multimedia messages with pictures, videos, sound, and special icons called emoji, like happy or sad faces. This growth happened through services like the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and Rich Communication Services (RCS).

Texting has become very popular since the early 2000s and has changed how people communicate in many parts of the world. It is used for everything from quick chats with friends to important updates and news.

Overview

Text messages are used for many things, like talking with family, friends, or coworkers, and for business or social reasons. In the 21st century, sending short, informal messages became very common and is accepted in many cultures, just like emailing. Texting is a fast and easy way to talk with others, especially when making a call might not be polite, like very late at night or when someone is busy. Unlike calls, texting doesn’t need both people to be free at the same time, which helps busy people communicate. Text messages can also be used to talk with automated systems, such as ordering products from e-commerce sites or joining online contests. Companies and service providers often use direct text marketing to send messages about promotions or order updates, instead of using postal mail, email, or voicemail.

History

See also: SMS § Developmental history

Long before phones could send text, people used electrical telegraphs to send messages using electrical signals. Later, they used wireless telegraphy with radio waves.

In 1933, Germany started a service called "telex". In 1984, an engineer named Friedhelm Hillebrand thought up the idea of SMS, or text messaging, while working for Deutsche Telekom. He noticed that most messages were under 160 characters, which became the limit for text messages.

The first real text message was sent on December 3, 1992, when a test engineer named Neil Papworth sent "Merry Christmas" to a friend using a computer and the Vodafone network. Text messaging grew slowly at first but became very popular. By 2007, most mobile phone users around the world were sending text messages. Countries like Finland, Sweden, and Norway had especially high usage.

Uses

Text messaging is mostly used between people who have mobile phones. It is a good way to talk when you can't or shouldn't use voice calls, like during class or a meeting. People also use texting to send quick notes, like telling a friend you'll be late or reminding someone about a meeting.

Texting is popular all over the world. In some places, like parts of Asia and Europe, many people use it more than voice calls. It is also used for controlling home devices and sending important alerts, like fire warnings.

Group texts

Group texts let more than two people talk at once. They are useful for planning events or sharing information with a group. These texts often need an internet connection.

Emergency services

In some countries, text messages can help call for emergency help. For example, in the UK, people who can't make voice calls because of a disability can use a special service to send a text for help. In the US, there are plans to let people text 911 for emergencies. In other places, texts are used to warn people about dangers like tsunamis.

Reminders of medical appointments

Some countries use text messages to remind people about doctor appointments. This helps make sure they don't forget to go.

Microblogging

Main article: Microblogging

Some people use texting to share quick thoughts online, similar to small blog posts. Websites like X (formerly Twitter) and Weibo let people do this.

Satellite messaging

Recently, some phones have been made to work with satellites. This helps people in places without regular phone service to send messages or get help.

Commercial uses

Short codes

Short codes are special, shorter phone numbers used for sending and receiving text messages.

Text messaging gateway providers

SMS gateway providers help businesses send texts to their customers. They handle important messages and services like voting on TV shows.

Premium content

Text messages have been used to send extra content like news, pictures, and ringtones. People paid extra for these messages, but this practice has mostly stopped in the United States.

In workplaces

Many businesses use texting to talk quickly with employees and customers. For example, they might send a text to confirm a delivery or to give an important update. Universities also use texts to send alerts to students.

Online SMS services

There are websites where people can send text messages using a computer. Some of these websites help businesses promote their products.

Worldwide

Europe

In 2003, Europe started using text messaging a lot, just after Asia. That year, people sent about 16 billion messages each month. In Spain, people sent about fifty messages a month. In Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom, people sent around 35 to 40 messages each month. The cost to send a message changed from €0.04 to €0.23, depending on the plan. In the United Kingdom, messages cost between £0.05 and £0.12.

In the Republic of Ireland, in 2012, people sent 1.5 billion messages every three months, which is about 114 messages per person each month. In the United Kingdom, by March 2012, over 1 billion messages were sent every week. The Eurovision Song Contest began using text messages for voting in 2002. In 2005, they had the biggest voting event ever with messages and phone calls.

In Finland, mobile companies offered plans where people could send 1000 messages a month for €10. Some TV channels in Finland let people send messages to appear on TV. These chats were moderated to keep things nice. They also turned into games where people could control characters by sending messages. In 2006, the Prime Minister of Finland made news for ending a relationship with a text message. In 2007, a book made only of text messages was published in Finland.

United States

In the United States, text messaging became very popular. In 2009, people sent 152.7 billion messages a month. By 2022, over 2 trillion messages were sent in the United States.

Texting is popular with young people, but also with adults and business users. The age when children get their first cell phone has gone down, making texting a common way to talk. The cost of messages has gone down over the years.

Japan

Japan was one of the first countries to use text messaging widely. Young people in Japan started texting because it was cheaper than other ways to talk. Studies showed that young people felt closer to friends when they texted and talked in person, compared to just talking in person. But now, most people use email on phones instead of simple text messages.

China

Text messaging has been popular and cheap in China. In 2007, about 700 billion messages were sent. However, there was a problem with unwanted messages. In 2010, the government watched messages for any bad content. Some workers used small booklets to help them write messages.

Philippines

Text messaging started in the Philippines in 1995. It became very popular because it was much cheaper than phone calls. People used texting for both personal talks and important events, like during a big change in government in 2001. By 2009, there were about 72 million mobile users, and over a billion messages were sent each day. The Philippines was known as the "text capital of the world" in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

New Zealand

New Zealand has three main mobile companies. Spark NZ was the first. Vodafone NZ started offering text messaging in 1999. People in New Zealand often prefer texting because it is seen as more polite than calling.

Sub-Saharan Africa

In 2009, text messaging was expected to become important for mobile companies in Africa. People have used messages to share information about health and to push for better services.

Social effects

Text messaging changed how people interact. It lets people talk without needing to reply right away or set aside time for a call. This is helpful when voice calls aren’t possible, like during class or meetings. Texting can make it easier to stay in touch and feel connected, even when people are far apart.

Effect on language

Texting often uses short cuts and abbreviations because typing on a small phone keypad can be slow. For example, “u” means “you” and “brb” means “be right back.” Some languages change their spelling to fit texting, like leaving out special marks above letters. This quick way of writing started in old online chats and became common in texting. Even though some worry it might hurt writing skills, studies show it doesn’t cause major problems. Texting has also made people more creative with language, using symbols and numbers to express ideas.

Texting while driving

Texting while driving is very dangerous because it takes your attention away from the road. Studies show it’s riskier than drinking alcohol while driving. For example, one test found that sending a text while driving made stopping distances much longer. Police have done studies showing that texting while driving can make accidents more likely.

Texting while walking

Many people text while walking, which can be risky. Texting while walking can make people less aware of their surroundings, leading to accidents. Studies have shown that people who text while walking may walk slower, have trouble balancing, or miss things around them, like obstacles or other people. This can increase the chance of falls or collisions.

In schools

Texting has caused some problems in schools. Students have used texting to cheat on tests by sending answers to each other. Teachers have noticed that students who text during class often remember less of what was taught. Texting can also lead to bullying, where students send mean or harmful messages to others. This can hurt the victims and cause serious emotional distress.

Law and crime

Police sometimes look at text messages to help solve crimes. For example, they have retrieved deleted messages to find clues. Text alerts have also been used to help find lost children or warn people about dangers. In some places, texting has even been used in legal cases, like when a court allowed a divorce based on a message sent by phone.

Social unrest

Texting has sometimes been used to organize large groups of people, which can lead to unrest. For example, in Australia, texts helped bring people together for violent protests. In other cases, texting has been used to organize peaceful events or share important information quickly.

In politics

Texting has changed politics too. It’s a quick and cheap way for campaigns to reach voters. In several countries, texting has helped organize protests and even influence elections. For example, in the Philippines, texting helped organize a large crowd that led to a leader stepping down. Texting can help people share ideas and coordinate actions easily.

Use in healthcare

Doctors and patients often use texting to share health information. Studies show that texting can help people manage conditions like diabetes by sending reminders and tips. However, there are concerns about keeping patient information private and safe when using text messages.

Medical concerns

Using your thumb a lot for texting can cause pain or injury, known as “texting thumb.” Texting while driving has also been linked to accidents. Too much texting can even lead to problems with internet use and addiction.

Etiquette

Texting etiquette is about knowing what’s polite when sending messages. This can vary depending on where you are and who you’re texting. For example, some people think short messages are fine, while others prefer longer, more detailed texts. It’s important to think about the context and the relationship you have with the person you’re messaging.

Challenges

Further information: Mobile phone spam

In 2002, people started sending unwanted messages to mobile phones, which worried phone companies. They took steps to stop this problem before it got worse. By 2007, no big spam problems with text messages had been reported, but watchdogs were still keeping an eye on it. In 2005, a group complained that a company was sending ads through text messages and charged people for each one. The company later agreed to stop doing this.

Some people were concerned about how much it cost to send text messages in the United States. If you didn’t have a plan for texting, you had to pay 20 cents for each message. This seemed very expensive compared to other ways to send data. For example, a phone call that lasts one minute uses the same amount of network space as 600 texts. In 2005, text messaging made a lot of money for companies.

As more people got smartphones, other ways to send messages became popular. These new services were cheaper and could send pictures, videos, and group messages. Examples include Apple's iMessage and the GSMA's RCS. In 2021, more messages were sent using services like WhatsApp than the old text message system.

Experts say that regular text messages aren’t safe for keeping secrets because the companies that run the networks can see what’s being sent. Some companies have ways to make messages more secure, but it can be tricky to set up and might not work perfectly everywhere.

In popular culture

Records and competition

The Guinness Book of World Records keeps track of amazing text messaging feats. Sonja Kristiansen from Norway holds the current record for the fastest text message, finishing in 37.28 seconds. In 2005, a young man from Scotland named Craig Crosbie held the record with a time of 48 seconds. Chris Young from Oregon also set a record for the fastest 160-character message without seeing it beforehand, finishing in 62.3 seconds in 2007.

Elliot Nicholls from New Zealand has the record for the fastest blindfolded text message, completing a 160-letter message in just 45 seconds in 2007. Andrew Acklin from Ohio once sent or received over 200,000 texts in a single month, a record that has since been broken.

In 2010, LG Electronics sponsored a competition called the LG Mobile World Cup to find the fastest texting team, which was won by a pair from South Korea.

Morse code

Some fun contests have happened between experts who use Morse code and those who use text messaging. Many Nokia phones can make special tones in Morse code, like spelling out "S M S" when a message arrives. There are also apps that let people type messages using Morse code on certain phones.

Tattle texting

"Tattle texting" is a name for two different ways people use text messages.

Some sports arenas let people send texts to report problems, like noisy fans or spills. This helps keep everyone safe without leaving their seats. Security teams can decide which reports to handle right away.

In cars, "tattle texting" means a car might send a text when something unusual happens. For example, a parent might get a text if their child drives too fast. This can help keep everyone safe on the road.