The Short Message Service provides the capability to send and receive text messages to and from mobile telephones. The text can comprise of words, numbers or simple characters. Each short message is up to 160 characters is length when Latin alphabets are used, and 70 characters in length when non-Latin alphabets such as Arabic and Chinese are used.
Short messages can also be non-text based such as binary format.
This enables messages to be delivered to the recipient if their phone is not switched on or if they are out of coverage at the time the message was sent - so called asynchronous messaging just like email. SMS is a standard facility on all GSM mobile phones and networks and increasingly on other cellular networks too giving near global coverage. Xsonic InTouch Lite enables Outlook users to send an SMS from their PC to virtually any mobile phone. Sending a short text message avoids wasting time and money on phone calls, leaving voice mail, interrupting meetings, needing the other person to be available when you send the message plus a written message can avoid confusion and be read again later. O ne-way messaging.