SMS stands for Short Message Service. It’s a standard for sending short text messages between mobile phones. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters (although there are ways to send longer messages by splitting them up). They are a simple and reliable way to communicate with people who have a mobile phone, even if they don’t have an internet connection.
Here are some of the common uses of SMS:
- Sending quick updates to friends and family
- Coordinating plans
- Sending reminders
- Sending alerts
- Two-factor authentication
SMS has been around for decades and is still a popular way to communicate. However, it has been somewhat eclipsed by the rise of over-the-top (OTT) messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram. These apps offer similar features to SMS, but they typically have higher message size limits and don’t rely on your cellular data plan.
However, SMS still has some advantages over OTT messaging apps. For example, it doesn’t require both users to have the same app installed, and it works on all types of phones, even older ones that don’t have internet access.