Text messaging is the sending and receiving of short written messages, usually over mobile phones. It is also called texting. People typically type the messages, called texts, on their phone’s keypad or touch screen. When a message is sent, it travels wirelessly to the recipient’s mobile phone.
Texting has changed the way people communicate. In many situations, speaking on a phone is considered rude or unacceptable. Texting, on the other hand, enables people to communicate almost anywhere and anytime, without bothering others or being overheard. Texts are especially popular in the many parts of the world where they are less expensive than voice phone calls. But texting can also be a distraction. It is particularly dangerous while driving. In the United States, almost every state bans texting while driving.
People also use texting for purposes other than communication between individuals. Some television reality shows allow viewers to text in votes for a particular contestant. Advertising or political campaigns may use text messages to recruit support or to poll members of the community. Many companies use automated text messages to communicate with customers—for example, to notify them that a package has been delivered or that an airline flight has been delayed.
Cell phones gained the ability to send and receive texts in 1992. The process was originally called short messaging service (SMS). Early texting made use of the phone’s 9-digit keypad. In the early 2000’s, mobile phones with full keyboards became widely available, making texting easier. In 2002, companies introduced MMS (short for multimedia messaging service), which allowed users to send images, as well as short videos and audio recordings, over wireless cellular networks.
In the early 2020’s, smartphone makers and telecommunications companies introduced a protocol called RCS (Rich Communication Services), which made internet-based features available in texting. Such features enable users to send long messages, view when the recipient is typing a reply, and “react” with emoji to messages they receive. RCS messages can be delivered over either a wireless cellular network or an internet connection. For this reason, texting with RCS is practically indistinguishable from instant messaging.
