Textmeddelanden

Textmeddelanden, or text messages, are short electronic messages exchanged between mobile devices. The term covers traditional SMS (Short Message Service), multimedia messages (MMS), and, in broader usage, data-based messaging services that operate over cellular or Internet connections.

Historically, textmeddelanden emerged with the development of the SMS standard for GSM networks in the 1990s. The first SMS was sent in 1992, and SMS quickly became a widely used way to exchange brief text with relatively low cost and broad compatibility. MMS appeared in the early 2000s to support multimedia content such as images, audio, and video. In recent years, newer messaging technologies like Rich Communication Services (RCS) and various app-based services have expanded capabilities beyond basic text.

Technically, SMS sends messages over a carrier’s control channels and has a limited payload, typically around 160 characters for a single message (with concatenation allowing longer texts). MMS uses data networks to transmit richer content. Data-based messaging apps rely on Internet connectivity and often offer features such as end-to-end encryption, larger media attachments, group chats, and read receipts.

Usage is widespread for one-to-one and group communication, announcements, and notifications. While SMS/MMS can work without mobile data, their features and costs vary by operator and region. App-based messengers dominate in many markets for richer features and security, but traditional textmeddelanden remain important for basic messaging and device-to-device compatibility.

Privacy and security: SMS is typically not end-to-end encrypted, and messages may be stored on devices and carrier systems, making them vulnerable to interception or metadata analysis. Users should be aware of risks such as SIM-swapping and phishing.