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Reference.org
Text messaging
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<p>Text messaging, or texting, is the act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of <a href="/facts/Mobile_phone/H3EcqD9h">mobile phones</a>, <a href="/facts/Tablet_computer/6pGX2I7b">tablet computers</a>, <a href="/facts/Smartwatch/Aq3dKhwb">smartwatches</a>, <a href="/facts/Desktop_computer/edFPINdK">desktops</a>/<a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptops</a>, or another type of compatible computer. Text messages may be sent over a <a href="/facts/Cellular_network/8zA0jQJ9">cellular network</a> or may also be sent via <a href="/facts/Satellite_phone/gqUV4bat">satellite</a> or <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a> connection. </p><p>The term originally referred to messages sent using the <a href="/facts/SMS/kacRfW0X">Short Message Service</a> (SMS) on mobile devices. It has grown beyond alphanumeric text to include multimedia messages using the <a href="/facts/Multimedia_Messaging_Service/Pg5CvwLx">Multimedia Messaging Service</a> (MMS) and <a href="/facts/Rich_Communication_Services/sI5UAdvy">Rich Communication Services</a> (RCS), which can contain digital images, videos, and sound content, as well as <a href="/facts/Ideogram/7NvclbIG">ideograms</a> known as <a href="/facts/Emoji/Qkp7gwBH">emoji</a> (<a href="/facts/Smiley/4aS92RNw">happy faces</a>, sad faces, and other icons), and on various <a href="/facts/Instant_messenger/8lwwDyjK">instant messaging</a> apps. Text messaging has been an extremely popular medium of communication since the turn of the century and has also influenced changes in society. </p>