The first web sms text was sent from an Orbitel 901. Engineer Neil Papworth wrote “Merry Christmas” to a colleague. It was December 3rd, 1992. Due to technological restrictions of that time, he had to use a PC to send the message. His colleague was able to receive the sms online however , he could not reply.

The web sms inventor Matti Makkonen didn’t even try to patent the idea, as he didn’t believe he had made a “patentable innovation.” He didn’t make any money out of his invention!

Phones were not SMS-enabled until Nokia introduced this feature in 1993. Texts couldn’t be sent between different networks in the UK until 1999.

In 1995, the predictive text a.k.a. T9 was introduced and texting became faster (or more confusing, for some!)

In 2003, a teenager from Scotland has written an entire school essay in text speak. It began: “My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :- kds FTF. ILNY, it’s a gr8 plc.”

The term sexting has started being used as a phrase in 2005! Well, we assume the action is a  bit older!

In 2008 a British doctor in Congo performed a life-saving operation. He received a step-by-step instruction on how to perform the surgery via text message. The operation was a success!!!

Total global SMS traffic peaked at 7.8 trillion messages in 2012!!! Although this volume is gradually declining, the SMS industry still provides more revenue than online instant messaging.

Brands using SMS successfully reach 95 percent of smartphone and non-smartphone users.

“The razor-toothed piranhas of the genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus are the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world. In reality they seldom attack a human”. Brazilian teenager typed this standard Guinness World Records text in 18.19 seconds!!

In China, SMS users receive more than 12 spam texts per week.

Texting is the second most common use of mobile phones, the first being checking the time!

In the U.K. and U.S., 20% of Internet users are already mobile-only.

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