A method for processing a short message, comprising: determining, by a network element in a 2G or 3G network, that a current service type is short message according to a received paging indication message, wherein the paging indication message carries service indication information and the service indication information indicates that the current service type is short message; selecting, by the network element, a short message delivery method according to a connection state of a terminal, a working mode of the terminal, and a network capability; and delivering a short message to the terminal according to a delivery method; wherein the selecting, by the network element, a short message delivery method according to a connection state of a terminal, a working mode of the terminal, and a network capability comprises: selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in an idle state; selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state, and the working mode of the terminal is an Iu mode, or the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode and a dual transfer mode, DTM, is supported; or selecting a second delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state and the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode but a DTM is not supported; wherein the first delivery method is to use a Circuit Switch, CS, domain to complete delivery of a short message; the second delivery method is that the delivery of the short message is delayed until the current Packet Switch, PS, service of the user equipment ends; and the third second delivery method is to use a Packet Switch, PS, domain to complete the delivery of the short message. determining, by a network element in a 2G or 3G network, that a current service type is short message according to a received paging indication message, wherein the paging indication message carries service indication information and the service indication information indicates that the current service type is short message; selecting, by the network element, a short message delivery method according to a connection state of a terminal, a working mode of the terminal, and a network capability; and delivering a short message to the terminal according to a delivery method; wherein the selecting, by the network element, a short message delivery method according to a connection state of a terminal, a working mode of the terminal, and a network capability comprises: selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in an idle state; selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state, and the working mode of the terminal is an Iu mode, or the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode and a dual transfer mode, DTM, is supported; or selecting a second delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state and the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode but a DTM is not supported; wherein the first delivery method is to use a Circuit Switch, CS, domain to complete delivery of a short message; the second delivery method is that the delivery of the short message is delayed until the current Packet Switch, PS, service of the user equipment ends; and the third second delivery method is to use a Packet Switch, PS, domain to complete the delivery of the short message. selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in an idle state; selecting a first delivery method or a third delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state, and the working mode of the terminal is an Iu mode, or the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode and a dual transfer mode, DTM, is supported; or selecting a second delivery method when the terminal is in a connected state and the working mode of the terminal is an A/Gb mode but a DTM is not supported; wherein the first delivery method is to use a Circuit Switch, CS, domain to complete delivery of a short message; the second delivery method is that the delivery of the short message is delayed until the current Packet Switch, PS, service of the user equipment ends; and the third second delivery method is to use a Packet Switch, PS, domain to complete the delivery of the short message.