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What is SMS?
What is HIPPA Privacy? |
What is SMS?
(aka Mobile Messaging, Text
Messaging, Texting)
Mobile messaging was born in
early 1990's with the introduction of the Short Message Service or SMS.
SMS was originally implemented as a simple notification tool for new
voicemail. A mobile subscriber who was not available for a call would
receive a short message on their mobile phone signaling that a new
voicemail message was waiting in the voicemail server.
SMS also enabled users to send and
receive short (160 character) messages with other mobile subscribers.
Soon a new form of communication evolved. Something like Instant
Messaging (IM) which has become very popular for internet users, SMS
became the instant messaging of mobile phone users. The key difference
is that mobile subscribers can send and receive non-invasive messages
anytime, with no need to be tied to the internet.
SMS works very much like email in
that a message originates from a networked terminal (in this case a
mobile phone) and is sent to specific address (in this case a mobile
phone number). The sender's mobile network receives the message and
routes it to the appropriate home network of the recipient. At the home
network, a server known as an SMSC (Short Message Service Center) takes
control of the message and attempts to forward the message to the
destinees mobile phone. If the mobile phone is available (on and in
coverage) the message is delivered. If the mobile phone is not
accessible the message is stored in the SMSC for later delivery.
Messages delivered to a mobile phone
are automatically stored in the phone for later use. Messages can be
replied to directly (with the origin mobile number now the destination),
forwarded to another mobile phone, saved, or deleted.
SMS today represents a massive
worldwide business both in terms of total messages and operator revenue.
Operator margins are much higher for SMS than for mobile voice calls -
some European operators derive as much as 40% of their operating margin
from SMS alone.
The success of SMS brought the
introduction of enhanced methods of delivering mobile messages and data.
The ability to download ringtones that could be played for incoming
calls was an early step forward. Later came EMS (Enhanced Message
Service) with basic graphics and sounds, and most recently, MMS
(multimedia messaging service) that allows users to send and receive
full-color photos and recorded sounds.
With the proliferation of camera-phones
and MMS-capable handsets, MMS promises to be one of the most engaging
and widespread formats for message transfer. Use a camera-phone to take
a photo, record a soundbyte with the built in microphone and in an
instant, send the message across the country (or around the world) to
another person as easily as sending an SMS message.
And what's next ? That's right -
streaming audio and video. Mobile Network Operators are busy
implementing new 3G networks that deliver enough bandwidth to make this
realistic.
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