The 160-character limit of SMS messages has not deterred cellphone users from making most of this service. Instead, SMS (Short Messaging Service) has inspired a new language consisting of abbreviations and alternative spellings that’s set to become the lingua franca of an entire generation.
SMS is available to all MTN users. All MTN SIM cards are pre-programmed with the MTN SMS service centre number embedded on the card. For information on how to access the service from your particular handset, please consult your handset’s instruction manual.
| Contract |
+27 83 100 0002 |
| PayAsYouGo |
+27 83 100 0113 |
In order to use this service, you’ll need to ensure that the relevant SMS service centre number has been put into your cellphone. This information can be found under the message settings menu of your particular cellphone. Please consult your cellphone’s instruction manual for more information on how to check this setting.
This part is very easy. Just select Messages on your cellphone, and then go to the New Message menu. You can also send SMS messages directly from the MTN Website.
Some newer cellphones will offer additional features such as predictive text (T9 Dictionary) and enhanced message services (EMS).
Predictive Text (T9 Dictionary) – this feature attempts to predict the word you are trying to type, thereby reducing the number of times you need to punch your keys. This helps to speed up your typing on a small cellphone keypad.
Enhanced Message Service (EMS) – this service is not supported on all cellphones. With this service you can include simple animations and sound to make your messages more colourful and expressive. This is not the same as MMS.
Concatenated (or integrated) messages (Long Message) – this feature allows you to exceed the 160-character limitation of the SMS service by splitting messages that exceed 160 characters into several messages and delivering them either as individual messages or as a single long message, depending on the recipient’s cellphone.
Your cellphone will alert you when you’ve received a new SMS. It should also prompt you to read the new message. Follow the simple on-screen prompt and read the message.
Some cellphones feature Chat applications. This feature makes use of SMS with each chat message being exchanged representing a single SMS message.
Although there is no subscription fee for using the MTN SMS service, some products and tools that use SMS may require one.
The cost of a single SMS may vary according to your MTN subscription. MTN also offers SMS bundles that further reduce the cost of using SMS, and bulk SMS services for businesses.
Pay as you Go (excluding WOW WOW and Call Per Second Plus) delivery receipts are charged at standard SMS rates and will deplete any SMS bundle. Delivery Receipts are free for contract and MyChoice Top Up customers.