How Many Types of Messages Are There?
by Eli Merrell | Last Updated: Apr 3, 2023
How Many Types of Messages Are There?
There are many types of text messages. Because most devices compile messages into an inbox you could assume all messages are the same type. In reality, there are three types of messages. Five Types of Messaging- Text messages are sent and received depending on the sender’s connection, the types of devices the sender and recipient are using, and the type of content being shared.
- SMS (Short Message Service) limits senders to 160 characters per message. Longer messages are separated into segments of 160 characters each. SMS messages are composed of alphanumeric characters, including links.
- MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messaging is used to send multimedia files, such as photos, voice memos, videos, and gifs.
- Device-Specific Text Messaging
- RCS is an update to the SMS standard. It is supported on Android devices and is what powers functionality such as typing indicators, read receipts, and high res image support. Android has been pushing Apple to adopt the RCS standard.
- iMessage is exclusive to Apple device users, providing a secure messaging experience between Apple devices. On an iPhone text messages are color coded. iMessages appear blue when you send a message to another Apple device user, and your friend’s reply will appear gray.
- In-app messaging, or in-app notifications, appear for active users of a mobile app or digital experience. These messages can appear as badges or pop-up alerts when users open a mobile app.
- Push notifications appear on a device’s lock screen and link the user to an installed mobile app or digital experience.
What Are Four Popular Types of Messages You Can Send With Smartphones?
Smartphones as with other devices have many methods of sending messages. When your smartphone alerts you of a new message it can be one of four types of messages:- SMS: SMS is a message containing alphanumeric characters (letters and numbers). These messages can include links.
- MMS: MMS are messages containing some form of multimedia content. This could include images, videos, gifs, and voice memos.
- Push Notifications: Messages that appear on a device’s lock screen. These messages are from a mobile app or digital experience installed on the device. The mobile app or digital experience does not need to be open for messages to be received.
- In-app Messages: Messages that users can only read when they are actively using a mobile app or digital experience.
What Are Examples of a Message?
Now that we’ve discussed the different types of messaging and how they are displayed and received on your mobile device, let's get into the examples to see how cell phone messages are being used every day.- User to User – Two people are messaging back and forth. Only two people are engaging in the messaging.
- User to a Group of Users – A group of people are communicating in one text thread. One message is sent to a collection of contacts at the same time and then collects responses in a single thread.
- Business to User - A business could send a message to a user to remind them of their appointment or share an exclusive discount. Users must opt-in to receive text messages from brands.
- Business to an Audience – A business could send a text to a group of employees to share company updates or notify customers of a new product. These messages appear as a private one-to-one text between the recipient and the business. These are not sent as a group text where everyone is able to see all recipients.