SMS is similar to paging. However, SMS messages do not require the mobile phone to be active and within range and will be held for a number of days until the phone is active and within range. SMS messages are transmitted within the same cell or to anyone with roaming service capability. They can also be sent to digital phones in a number of other ways, including:
From one digital phone to another
From Web-based applications within a Web browser
From instant messaging clients like ICQ
From VoIP applications like Skype
From some unified communications applications.
Notifying a mobile phone owner of a voicemail message
Notifying a salesperson of an inquiry and contact to call
Notifying a doctor of a patient with an emergency problem
Notifying a service person of the time and place of their next call
Notifying a driver of the address of the next pickup
Enhanced messaging service (EMS), an adaptation of SMS that allows users to send and receive ringtones and operator logos, as well as combinations of simple media to and from EMS-compliant handsets.
SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is a technology that enables the sending and receiving of messages between mobile phones. SMS first appeared in Europe in 1992. It was included in the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standards right at the beginning. Later it was ported to wireless technologies like CDMA and TDMA. The GSM and SMS standards were originally developed by ETSI. ETSI is the abbreviation for European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Now the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is responsible for the development and maintenance of the GSM and SMS standards.