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Ok, big complicated subject, so let's break it down into small sequential chunks that are easily understood. Cell Phone Text Messages are commonly referred to as SMS message types. The SMS stands for "Simple Message Service" or "Small Message Service". It is a logical extension of the pager industry as well as it's eventual obsolescence.
First there were pagers that just beeped (circa 1970's). You had to call a central number, talk to an operator and ask them to contact the person with the pager. When the pager beeped, the person would call the pager company and retrieve his or her message. Then there were pagers that had a one line numeric display (circa 1980's). You had to call a central number, then key in the number that you wished to be contacted at using a touch tone telephone. When the pager beeped, the person would call the number displayed on the pager. Finally, there were pagers that had multiple lines of alpha-numeric display (circa 1990's and beyond). You could just enter your contact number from a touch tone telephone as before, or with a computer, modem and specialized software you could transfer a readable text message. When the pager beeped, it displayed the text message that the person could either respond to or just be informed.
Then came the Cell Phone... the Grim Reaper of all pagers. Nothing to dial. No computer with modem and specialized software. Just select a Contact or put in a number, type a bit of text and send. Magic? No, just another variation on the TAP protocol, or better put as an extension of the TAP protocol except the cell phone contacts a server that acts as the computer, modem and specialized software. And the kicker is that it's all done through Email.
Not clear yet? You essentially send an Email to a server and it will handle the specialized software requirements of TAP and deliver the message to a remote device. Yes, pagers, cell phones, PDA's and regular computers as well. The SMS server has enough "Smarts" when communicating to a device that it can discern whether to send an Email on a computer or PDA, or a message on a cell phone, or an alpha-numeric message on a pager.
Simple text messaging does not support any type of attached or embedded pictures, audio or other files. (Some carriers will accept embedded pictures to cell phones and will forward entire Email contents to computers and PDA's, others will send pictures plus text if the cell phone and account permits it.)
Find your SMS server Compose an Email to your cell phone and send it. Got it? Great!
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