How to use text messaging on my mobile phone?

How do I use text messages on my mobile phone?

Text messages allow you to communicate quickly with your colleagues who also have a mobile phone. When you receive a text message, your phone notifies you with a sound alert or by displaying a symbol or message on the screen.

When you text your contacts, their phones ring or vibrate almost instantaneously.

Note that depending on your device, you can configure your settings to get a notification when the messages you send have been read or received.

Refer to your phone’s user guide for instructions on how to do this.

Good to know

If you receive a text message when you’re outside the coverage zone or your mobile phone is turned off, your messages will be stored for 72 hours. They will then be sent to you as soon as your mobile phone is able to receive them.

Is there a character limit when I send a text message?

When sending text messages, there is usually a limit of 160 characters (GSM or 7-bit encoded characters). However, this limit may be lower depending on the type of device used and the characters used in the message:

Limit of 140 characters: Some phones support 8-bit encoding, and the limit is 140 characters instead of 160 characters.
Limit of 70 characters: Some French characters (such as ê or â) automatically convert to UCS-2 Unicode encoded characters. The limit is 70 characters instead of 160.

If you send a text message in excess of 160 characters, your message will be split into two or more messages. In most cases, if the recipient has a smartphone, they will receive the message as a whole. If they have a regular phone, they will receive it in several parts.