Short Message Service (SMS) is an exciting service, which transformed the mobile using habit of subscribers, representing communication, fun and marketing. Books including hundreds of short messages are available in markets, which could be send in SMS with a number of topics attracting the youth of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
According to a survey, it was revealed that availability of such books show the major increase in these services with keen interest of people. "Such books are a source of attraction among the young generation especially students which provides them a variety of ideas to share with their fellows while the price ranges between Rs 20-50," says a shopkeeper at a book shop in a local market.
"It allows people to send and receive text messages from one mobile to other users while people also become part of the bigger mobile community world-wide," says an official of Telecommunication Company.
Text message service has become so popular that advertising agencies and advertisers are now jumping into the text message business while it is often used by telecommunication companies to provide services for mobile phones or participating in contests.
The SMS is widely used for delivering service messages such as news alerts, financial information, logos, ring tones, horoscopes etc, while the subscribers are charrged extra for receiving such messages, said Umair Shahzad an official in a telecommunication company.
As long as the recipient of the SMS has this service, the recipient would be able to send and receive an unlimited number of messages containing as many as 160 alphanumeric characters in one page.
As far as misuse of SMS is concerned, a teacher in a local institute told that "it was used in some examination halls for cheating purposes by students but now the management of examination halls has controlled the situation and cell phones are no more allowed in educational institutions".