"Txt msg" redirects here. For the TV series, see Pop-Up Video.

"Texter" redirects here. For the American surname, see Texter (surname).
A user typing a text message on an LG enV (VX9900)
Text messaging, or texting, is the act of composing and sending electronic messa
ges between two or more mobile phones, or fixed or portable devices over a phone
network. The term originally referred to messages sent using the Short Message
Service (SMS). It has grown to include multimedia messages (known as MMS) contai
ning images, videos, and sound content, as well as ideograms known as emoji. The
service itself has different colloquialisms depending on the region. It may sim
ply be referred to as a text in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ne
w Zealand and the Philippines, an SMS in most of mainland Europe, or an MMS or S
MS in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The sender of a text message is commonl
y referred to as a texter.
Text messages can be used to interact with automated systems, for example, to or
der products or services, or to participate in contests. Advertisers and service
providers use direct text marketing to message mobile phone users about promoti
ons, payment due dates, and other notifications instead of using postal mail, email, or voicemail.
Contents [hide]
1
History
2
Uses
3
Applications
3.1
Microblogging
3.2
Emergency services
3.3
Reminders of hospital appointments
3.4
Commercial uses
3.4.1 Short codes
3.4.2 Text messaging gateway providers
3.4.3 Premium content
3.5
In business
3.6
Online SMS Services
3.7
Worldwide use
3.7.1 Europe
3.7.1.1 Finland
3.7.2 United States
3.7.3 Japan
3.7.4 China
3.7.5 Philippines
3.7.6 New Zealand
3.7.7 Africa
4
Social impact
4.1
Effect on language
4.2
Texting while driving
4.3
Texting while walking
4.4
Sexting
4.5
In schools
4.5.1 Bullying
4.5.2 Influence on perceptions of the student
4.6
Law and crime
4.7
Social unrest
4.8
Texting in politics
4.9
Use in healthcare
4.10
Medical concerns
4.11
Texting etiquette
5
Challenges
5.1
Text message spam
5.2
Pricing concerns

5.3
5.4
6
6.1
6.2
7
8
9

Increasing competition
Security concerns
Text messaging in popular culture
Records and competition
Morse code
See also
References
External links