1. What does SMS stand for?
Answer:
SMS stands for Short Messaging Service. It allows the sending and receiving of text messages (alphanumeric) on mobile phones.
2. How was SMS conceived?
Answer:
SMS was conceived as part of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) digital standard. It was designed to facilitate text communication on mobile devices.
3. How are messages sent using SMS?
Answer:
SMS messages are sent and routed through a Short Messaging Service Centre (SMSC), ensuring delivery even if the recipient’s phone is switched off or out of coverage.
4. What happens if a recipient’s phone is switched off when an SMS is sent?
Answer:
If the recipient’s phone is switched off, the SMSC stores the message and forwards it when the phone is switched on or enters the network.
5. Why might there be a delay in delivering an SMS?
Answer:
There might be a delay in delivering an SMS due to network congestion. However, messages are normally delivered instantly.
6. What is the beauty of SMS?
Answer:
The beauty of SMS is that messages can be sent and received even while making voice calls. This is because SMS uses a signalling path that travels over the radio channel.
7. How does SMS differ from Instant Messaging (IM)?
Answer:
SMS is not simultaneous like Instant Messaging (IM), which allows real-time text conversations when people are logged in to the internet at the same time.
8. What limitation does SMS have?
Answer:
SMS messages are limited to 160 characters per message on GSM networks. Despite this, it remains a popular method of communication.
9. What was the first SMS ever sent?
Answer:
The first SMS was sent in December 1992 from a PC to a mobile phone on the Vodafone GSM network in the UK.
10. Why did SMS have a silent beginning?
Answer:
SMS had a silent beginning because even cellular operators initially did not understand its potential and did little to advertise it. However, it gradually became widely popular.
11. How has SMS evolved since its inception?
Answer:
SMS has evolved from a little-known feature into a widely used communication tool, with mobile manufacturers and service providers actively promoting it.
12. What is MMS, and how is it related to SMS?
Answer:
MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is an advanced version of SMS that allows users to send pictures, sounds, and longer formatted texts. It requires MMS-enabled devices or email addresses.
13. How has SMS changed communication?
Answer:
SMS has revolutionized communication by providing an easy, quick, and affordable way to send text messages across the globe, making it a preferred mode of communication.
14. What technological advancement did Nokia introduce related to SMS?
Answer:
Nokia introduced the first Hindi-compatible handsets, allowing users to send SMS messages in Hindi. This adaptation made SMS more accessible to a wider audience in India.
15. Why is SMS considered a revolution in communication?
Answer:
SMS is considered a revolution because it transformed how people communicated, offering an affordable and efficient alternative to phone calls and letters, despite its limitations.
16. What role does SMSC play in SMS communication?
Answer:
SMSC (Short Messaging Service Centre) is responsible for routing and storing messages when the recipient’s phone is switched off or out of coverage, ensuring that messages are delivered later.
17. What feature does SMS have that allows communication during calls?
Answer:
SMS allows messages to be sent and received even during voice calls, as the messages travel on a separate signalling path from the dedicated radio channel used for calls.
18. Why did SMS become so popular despite its character limitation?
Answer:
Despite the 160-character limit, SMS became popular due to its convenience, affordability, and the ability to send quick, concise messages. People adapted to the constraint by using shorter texts.
19. How does SMS differ from emails?
Answer:
Unlike emails, which require internet access and devices like computers or smartphones, SMS can be sent using any basic mobile phone, making it more widely accessible.
20. What impact has SMS had on society?
Answer:
SMS has had a major impact on society by enabling people to communicate quickly, easily, and affordably. It paved the way for modern text-based communication and is still widely used today.
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