Difference Between SMS and BBM (With Table)

The SMS feature works on all kinds of phones. It delivers messages using telco and does not require an internet connection to work or send messages to another person. It may incur additional costs if you try to send a message to a receiver in another country/state. It does not support messages in audio format.

BBM works on Blackberry phones only. It requires a stable internet connection as it delivers messages using the internet and Blackberry servers. It does not incur additional roaming charges to send messages from any corner of the world. The BBM also supports audio format messages and emoticons, which cannot be found in SMS.

Comparison Table Between SMS and BBM

What is SMS?

SMS has been a part of our lives for decades, but technology has a longer history than you might think. In 1984, German engineer Friedhelm Hillebrand and his colleague Bernard Ghillebaert began developing a system that would allow them to send messages over the phone network using GSM standards. Their research ultimately paid off in the 1990s.

In the United Kingdom, the first SMS was sent over the Vodafone GSM network. By the 2010s, hundreds of thousands of SMS messages were being sent per second. Every text message, also known as an SMS message, is entirely composed of text. If a user submits a message with more than 160 characters, it may be split into up to six parts, totaling 918 characters.

It was sometimes referred to as “SMS” in the early days of its use. To characterize the message, the abbreviation was utilized as a noun. It might also be used as a verb. It was popular for early cell phone users to characterize themselves as “SMSing” a buddy. 

According to Pew Research Center research, persons who converse through text message send and receive 41.5 texts each day on average. Millions of text messages are delivered and received every day despite the development of social media and internet-based messaging systems.

What is BBM?

Blackberry Messenger (BBM) is an instant messaging program that is available for free. It was first limited to Blackberry smartphones, but it swiftly spread to other devices. It has now gained popularity due to its capabilities and the fact that it allows users to send free messages to one other regardless of network or phone type.

BBM was initially designed for the Blackberry handset, which is mostly used for business purposes. However, the instant messaging service quickly became popular as a convenient method to connect and send instant messages to other BBM users without using phone charges.

Because it provides free phone calls and messages to users in various countries, the app is especially popular in border regions such as the northwest. In that regard, the app was revolutionary. BBM is simple to use. You must establish an account after downloading BBM.

After you have done this, you will be granted a one-of-a-kind “PIN” that will serve as your login. You may either use a QR code or send your PIN to other BBM users to add contacts. After you have added a contact, you may start a chat with them. BBM is free to use, but some features, such as a personalized PIN or unique stickers, need a monthly membership.

Main Differences Between SMS and BBM

1. SMS works on all phones, whereas BBM only works on Blackberry phones.
2. SMS delivers messages through telecommunications, whereas BBM delivers messages through the internet and Blackberry servers.
3. An internet connection is not required for SMS, but it is required for BBM.
4. SMS incurs additional roaming charges. On the other hand, BBM does not incur any additional roaming or international charges whatsoever.
5. Audio format is not supported on SMS, but it is supported on BBM.

Conclusion

SMS is a commonly used shorthand for text-messaging systems, and BlackBerry Messenger is also known as BBM. The distinctions between the two are substantial, with SMS being the more widely used. Both, though, have to do with transmitting messages via mobile devices. Unless you own a BlackBerry, SMS is most certainly the technology you utilize in your daily work routine.

BlackBerry Messenger is the name of a text, voice, and video chat service for BlackBerry smartphones. BBM is similar to services such as Google Chat and Skype for Mobile. You may use BBM to send text messages to other BBM users. These messages are not the same as text messages sent from your phone outside of a proprietary instant messaging service. Those are SMS text messages.

Short Message Service (SMS) sends out what are popularly known as “texts.” They are often limited to 160 characters or less and do not include any more complicated material, such as photographs or movies.

A mobile phone service provider routes the SMS message wirelessly through a Short Message Service center, which then routes the message to the intended device. Depending on your carrier and service plan, you may be charged a price for each SMS text message you send or receive.

References

1. https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/1958824.1958857
2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Oluwatoyin-Agbonifo/publication/316440720_Supporting_Mobile_Learning_with_WhatsApp_based_on_Media_Richness/links/5c0646dd299bf169ae307bdc/Supporting-Mobile-Learning-with-WhatsApp-based-on-Media-Richness.pdf