Curiosities
The first SMS was sent on December 3, 1992 when Neil Papworth transmitted Merry Christmas to Richard Jarvis’ Orbitel 901, consolidating the result of a year of software development at Vodafone UK’s message center.
Papworth was 22 years old and worked at Sema Group Telecoms, viewing the process as a routine task. He reported in 2017 that he did not perceive the historical significance of the test and merely confirmed the expected functioning of the system.
The concept of SMS emerged in 1984 during a presentation by Matti Makkonen in Copenhagen. In 1985, Friedhelm Hillebrand suggested a limit of 160 characters after analyzing everyday texts and standardizing forms of quick writing.
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The European Telecommunications Standards Institute began defining standards in 1991. The message sent in the United Kingdom in 1992 resulted from this process, taking advantage of the transition from analog networks to GSM digital infrastructure.
The devices of the time lacked keyboards, forcing Papworth to transmit the text via computer. Jarvis received the SMS while attending a Christmas party and then confirmed by phone that the test had worked.
The initial system relied on 7-bit encoding and… storage In the message centers, content was forwarded when devices were back within range. This workflow ensured reliable delivery even with technical limitations.
Nokia boosted SMS usage in 1994 by launching a device capable of sending and receiving messages. Growth was slow because phones were expensive and operators prioritized voice services over data traffic.
In the late 1990s, the volume of messages began to increase among young people. T9 facilitated typing, and prepaid plans reduced costs, allowing for continuous expansion. Communication between different networks was also enabled.
In February 2001, users in the United Kingdom were sending approximately one billion messages per month. Each SMS cost 10 pence, forming an important source of revenue and expanding the service’s market share.
The following decade marked a global explosion. In 2010, the International Telecommunication Union recorded trillions of messages annually, consolidating abbreviations such as LOL and BRB. Some records indicate overuse and saturation problems.
Applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber displaced SMS by offering free messages, photos, and emojis with unlimited characters. The proliferation of smartphones caused an accelerated decline after 2012.
In 2021, Vodafone auctioned off the first Merry Christmas as an NFT (Not For Sale). The sale reached €107.000, guaranteeing the buyer a digital display case. The proceeds went to the UN refugee agency, concluding a symbolic cycle of the pioneering message.
Journalist specializing in a wide variety of topics, including automobiles, technology, politics, the shipbuilding industry, geopolitics, renewable energy, and economics. I’ve been working since 2015, with prominent publications on major news portals. My degree in Information Technology Management from the Faculty of Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analysis and reporting. With over 10 articles published in renowned publications, I always strive to provide readers with detailed information and relevant insights.
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