IM, SMS, Texting – A Glossary for Teachers

The Differences Between Text Messages And Instant Messages

Nov 5, 2009

With the rise of personal electronics, a sea of acronyms for different messaging systems can quickly swamp teachers whose students use the technologies regularly.

Knowing how IM, SMS and mobile IM work can help teachers sort through the tools their students use.

In general, messaging systems can be thought of as either synchronous or asynchronous. A synchronous communication is one that occurs in real time; that is, one person sends a message and another responds immediately afterwards. Synchronous communication occurs much as a face-to-face conversation might. Instant messages are a type of synchronous communication.

Asynchronous communication can occur over time. For example, a message sent yesterday might be viewed today, and the person receiving the message may even choose to respond tomorrow. With the rise of 3G networks, the line between synchronous and asynchronous communications becomes increasingly gray, however. Email and text messages are forms of asynchronous communications. Email, some say, is no longer the cutting edge of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Telecommunication Networks: The 3G Standard

3G stands for third generation network. A 3G network is one that standardizes transmission requirements across networks and potentially offers integration of tools in a mobile environment (for example, a cell phone). As this technology continues to evolve, one can expect that the message sender will have increased options for communication. The same would be true for the message recipient.

A low-tech example may help. A telephone conversation on a landline is intended to be a synchronous form of communication. However, if the person called is not available, the voice message system kicks in automatically changing synchronous communication to asynchronous communication. The call recipient can return the call when time permits. 4G will, among other things, standardize the bandwidth requirement making it possible for users to know that messages will be sent at a minimum rate (currently, 100 megabytes per second for mobile devices). The increase in bandwidth using a standard transmission rate will also increase messaging options available.

What is an SMS Message?

SMS is an abbreviation for short message system and refers to those messages sent via a wireless communication device, typically a cell phone. SMS sends a message to a wireless device much like email. To send an SMS, a cell phone connects to another cell phone provided that the sender has the recipient’s phone number.

When students refer to “texting” they are generally referring to an SMS or MMS. Some educators believe texting is causing deterioration in the language skills of teenagers, but this claim may not be entirely founded. Though, students are not always precise in their use of language, and they may use “texting” when they are actually referring to other types of messaging services.

SMS is asynchronous – that is users can send an SMS now and the person reads it later (though teachers and parents may have seen adolescents treat an SMS as a real-time tool, responding immediately to a text message even though the possibility for responding later exists). An MMS is a multimedia messaging service and is like SMS except it can include photos, videos, and so on.

What are Instant Messages?

IM is an acronym for instant message and is similar to an SMS in some ways, but IM uses proprietary services such as AIM or Windows Live Messenger. IM is intended to be synchronous; that is, it is communication in real time. For this reason, IM is often known as “chatting” and can include more than two participants. However, Wimba and other applications also include chat features.

Many tech support divisions use a live chat as a means of providing customer service. With some software (known as a client), the IM can be sent to a cell phone. In this way, IM is similar to SMS and can become an asynchronous message. As the industry continues to find the means for meeting consumers’ needs, the technology will merge, as well.

Mobile IM is popular in Europe where text message charges may be more expensive than instant message charges. In the United States, Verizon (2009), for example, charges the same rate, at the time of this writing, for mobile IM as it does for text messages. Because the architecture or design of these tools continues to evolve, users may expect to see them used in both synchronous and asynchronous ways.

As teachers work with students in ways that make the most effective use of technologies, it will be increasingly important that thoughtful approaches toward integration of technology and learning occur. For example, read more about how texting might be integrated to improve spelling skills.

The copyright of the article IM, SMS, Texting – A Glossary for Teachers in Teaching & Technology is owned by Tom Wolsey. Permission to republish IM, SMS, Texting – A Glossary for Teachers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.