What is sent as text message?

Here's information about SMS text messages, formatted in Markdown with linked concepts:

SMS, or Short Message Service, is a text messaging service component of phone, web, or mobile communication systems. It uses standardized communication protocols to allow mobile devices to exchange short text messages.

• History of SMS: SMS originated in the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard and was envisioned as a way for operators to send alphanumeric messages to mobile phone users.
• Message Length Limit: A single SMS message is typically limited to 160 characters when using a 7-bit encoding, or 70 characters when using Unicode (for languages with more complex characters).
• How SMS Works: When you send an SMS, it's transmitted to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which then forwards it to the recipient's mobile network. The network delivers the message to the recipient's mobile device.
• SMS Applications: SMS is used for a wide range of applications, including person-to-person communication, marketing, notifications, two-factor authentication, and mobile banking.
• Advantages and Disadvantages: Advantages include wide availability (works on virtually all mobile phones), low cost (per message), and reliability. Disadvantages include the character limit, potential for spam, and lack of rich media support compared to other messaging apps.
• SMS Security Concerns: SMS is not inherently secure. Messages can be intercepted and read. Phishing and scams are also prevalent via SMS ("smishing").