The end of the short message era

Although during the Spring Festival, mobile phone text messages are still the most popular form of New year, but all kinds of data show that New Year text message number is continuing to decline, but micro-letter, video and other forms, in the rising. Obviously, with the gradual popularization of 3G and high-speed broadband, in the case of micro-letter and other IM software installation, the user's greeting and social forms have changed greatly. So is this a message that means 70 Chinese characters and is about to quit the stage of history?

The appearance and popularity of SMS

Orbitel 901

The initial text message appeared in 1992, sent through Vodafone's Orbitel 901, a wired, bulky analog communication device, and no other device was able to receive text messages except itself. And in the era of GSM digital cellular, Nokia launched in 1993, 1011, although the shape of a huge volume, but it is the first real support for SMS digital phone.

Nokia 1011

Of course, new things appear at the beginning is not easy to popularize, until the December 1995 T9 Input method, the message sent to increase gradually. Part of this growth is due to the advent of a full keyboard handset, such as the Nokia 9000 Mobile Communicator, which is a full keyboard handset that is launched earlier than the BlackBerry 850.

Since then, SMS has become one of the most popular forms of mobile communications, in China in 2002 alone, reached 90 billion.

MM "MMS" appears

In 2002, MMS Multimedia SMS technology first appeared, but until 2004, only by European operators gradually popularized. At this point, Nokia, Motorola and other mainstream mobile phone manufacturers will also begin to take photos, send "MMS", you can add pictures, video, sound files in the message, without limiting the number of characters. However, MMS did not receive SMS-like success due to capacity constraints (maximum support for 100KB).

As of 2010, the global SMS delivery volume has reached 4.1 trillion, SMS delivery volume is still growing.

The rise of Smartphone and IM software

In the 2009, smartphones began to rise, while internet im software such as "What ' APP" made users feel more interested and viewed as replacements for text messages. Such applications allow users to send text, pictures, video and voice messages free of charge through WiFi, 3G networks, not only reducing the cost of communications, but also richer content.

With the further popularization of smartphones, the emerging of IM software, which is represented by micro-letters, has become the preferred non-voice communication mode for users. Apple has also added "IMessage" to the iOS device, further reducing the appeal of traditional text messages.

What's the next message?

With the gradual popularization of IM software, social platforms and 4G networks, we are also looking forward to another unified new form of communication. Of course, although the number of SMS sent down year after year, but there are irreplaceable technical features, such as multiple equipment compatibility, low cost, do not rely on data networks, but we believe that will soon be with it thoroughly said "goodbye."

Source: TechRadar