If the title of this piece looks like a part of some puzzle, the reality is going to send you for a spin.
What if I tell you, that the Mobile phone’s Short Messaging Service (SMS’s) , that you love to send , cost you more than what you think?
Well, You’ll say , ’’This guy has gone nuts’’
But, as they say, the fact is stranger than fiction.
The fact is- Any mobile phone message which consists of equal to or less than 160 characters (not words, mind you), costs you as 1 SMS. Anything above than this character limit is billed in multiples of 1 SMS. If you send an SMS which consists of 161 characters, including spaces, you will be billed for 2 SMS. Similarly, if your SMS consists of 321 characters or more, your bill shoots up by thrice.
The same fate awaits Picture messages .An innocuous looking picture message can throw you back by about five times the normal charges.
If you do want to limit your SMS to a single chargeable message, just look at the number being displayed on the extreme right side corner of you mobile phone screen. This number is character counter and shows you exactly how much long message has been composed by you. This particular feature is available in all the Nokia models.
Now, you can stop tearing out those (scarce) hairs of yours on seeing that hefty mobile bill...
...’Coz, the puzzle has been solved.
So, the next time you pick up that cute cellphone of yours and start on another bout of sending jokes, more jokes and still more jokes , do keep in mind the golden rule of Messaging, 1 SMS = 2 SMS.
One final caveat.
Do check with your cellular service provider the actual meaning of what constitutes an SMS.
I promise, you are not going to be surprised, after what you have read.