Chapter 5: Sending Text Messages

Talking on the iPhone is just one of many ways you can communicate with others. Besides talking, another popular way to communicate is through text messages. Unlike phone calls, which require both parties to be free to chat at the same time, text messages allow you to carry on a conversation by typing in messages to each other and responding when it's convenient. Best of all, text messaging works for everyone who has a smartphone.

Text messaging was originally called Short Message Service (SMS) and was designed as a cheaper way to communicate. Sending audio over cellular networks required large amounts of data but sending text required far less data, making it faster and cheaper to use.

Text messaging has grown beyond alphanumeric characters to include pictures, audio, and video as well as emoji symbols, such as a smiling face. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) is an expanded version of text messaging that lets you share all types of data...