If you do not receive an SMS (Short Message Service), there may be a problem not only with the receiver but also with the sender. We will explain common causes and solutions for the receiving and sending sides. We will also introduce the benefits and specific examples of using SMS in business, so please refer to it.
Why am I not receiving SMS? Cause and solution [Receiving side]
SMS is a convenient service that can be used in a variety of situations. One of the characteristics of SMS is its high delivery rate, but it seems that there are very rare cases where the message is not delivered.
If you do not receive an SMS, the cause may be on the receiving side, the sending side, or both. Common causes on the receiving side include:
Let’s take a look at each cause and how to deal with it.
There is a problem with the signal condition.
SMS is a service that uses telephone lines to send and receive messages, rather than internet lines such as Wi-Fi. Please note that if the signal is weak or you are out of range, you may not be able to reach the other party.
When receiving SMS, check the radio wave icon. If the icon is not displayed, the number of radio waves is low, or you are out of range, try moving to a place where you can receive radio waves.
Also, if you see an airplane icon, airplane mode is on. For Android, swipe wide from the top of the screen down to check the status of Airplane mode.
When airplane mode is on, all communication functions, including not only internet lines but also telephone lines, cannot be used. Tap on the airplane mode section to turn it off before receiving an SMS.
There is a problem with the SMS reception settings.
SMS is a service that uses telephone lines to send and receive SMS, so if the recipient’s phone number is set to reject SMS, you will not be able to receive SMS. If the phone number of the person you want to receive SMS from is registered in your phone book, turn on the reception setting.
In some cases, reception settings can also be changed from the settings page of your smartphone. Please open the page related to sending and receiving SMS and check whether there are any restrictions on receiving SMS.
I have a problem with my device
In some cases, the device may not be able to receive SMS due to a malfunction. If you haven’t received an SMS for several days, why not try restarting your smartphone?
It is also possible that the smartphone version is outdated and may not be able to receive SMS. For Android, select “System” from the settings screen and check the “System update” item. If it shows that an update is required, please update immediately.
There is not enough space on your device
If you are not out of range of the telephone line and there are no problems with the reception settings or system, your device may not have enough capacity. Check the free space on your smartphone’s memory and delete unnecessary data.
For Android, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear-shaped “Settings” icon. Select “Storage” from the settings screen.
If you don’t have enough free space, tap “Free up space” and select unnecessary files to delete. Also, delete apps, images, videos, etc. that you don’t use.
Check your iPhone’s storage capacity from “Settings” → “General” → “iPhone Storage”. Delete unnecessary data and apps and make sure you can receive SMS.
Using a cheap SIM that cannot receive SMS
If you are using a cheap SIM, be sure to check the SIM contract details. Some SIMs allow you to use SMS and phone calls in addition to internet communication, but if you have a contract for internet communication only, you cannot use SMS.
If you want to use SMS, you will need to change the contract details of your cheap SIM. Although it is convenient to be able to use phone calls and SMS, it is important to check in advance as usage charges may increase.
SMS app version is outdated
If your SMS app is on an older version, make sure to update it to use the latest version. You can also check the SMS app version from your smartphone’s settings page. For Android, go to “Settings” → “Apps” → “SMS” and check if it is the latest version.
Message is being sent from abroad
If the message is sent from overseas, your mobile carrier may consider it to be a spam message and reject it. Additionally, even if the message is not sent from overseas, if the SMS is sent using a foreign communication network, it may be considered a spam message.
Why can’t I send SMS? Causes and remedies [Sending side]
If it is pointed out that the SMS has not been delivered to the other party, the problem may lie not only on the receiving side but also on the sending side. The main causes may be:
Let’s take a look at the causes and solutions for each.
The destination phone number is incorrect
SMS is a service that sends messages using a phone number, so if you enter the wrong destination phone number, you will not be able to send the SMS. If the other party points out that you haven’t received an SMS, first check their phone number.
The number of characters or number of messages sent exceeds the upper limit.
SMS cannot be sent if the number of characters or number of messages exceeds the upper limit. Please make sure that the following standards are not exceeded.
| mobile company | Maximum number of characters that can be sent via SMS | Maximum number of SMS sent |
| au |
● 4G LTE smartphones and 4G LTE mobile phones sold after May 2017: 670 full-width characters (1,530 half-width characters) ● Other terminals: 70 full-width characters (160 half-width characters) |
● From month of subscription to 3rd month: 200 sends per day or 3,000 sends per month ● From 4th month: 200 sends per day or 6,000 sends per month |
| docomo | ● 670 full-width characters | ● Less than 200 messages (SMS with 70 characters or less is counted as 1 message, SMS with 71 to 670 characters is counted as 2 to 10 messages sent at one time) |
| Softbank | ● 670 full-width characters (1,530 half-width characters) | ● If you send more than 200 messages in a day, sending will be restricted for the next 24 hours. |
*As of November 23, 2023
Images or videos are attached
Text and URLs can be sent via SMS, but images and videos cannot be sent if they are attached. If you want to send an image or video, create a URL and attach it.
What is SMS? Benefits for business
SMS (Short Message Service) is a service that sends text to a phone number. SMS is a service that has been used between individuals such as family and friends, but in recent years it has also become increasingly used for business purposes. Let’s take a look at the benefits and usage scenarios of using SMS in business.
Advantages of using SMS in business
Utilizing SMS for business has the following benefits:
We will explain the benefits of each.
You can contact me directly with just a phone number
You can send SMS to anyone you know their phone number. You can easily send messages even if you don’t know the recipient’s email address, SNS account, or address.
In business, there are many opportunities to obtain phone numbers. By using SMS, you can communicate a lot of information by texting even people you don’t know other than their phone number.
Additionally, SMS allows you to insert links within messages. If you want to provide more information or have people participate in a survey or campaign, send a message with a link attached.
High delivery and open rates
Some people frequently change their email address. It’s possible that the address you sent the message to is no longer in use.
Also, some people have multiple email addresses and use them for work, private, account registration, etc. In these cases, even if the email address itself is valid, the message may not be opened.
On the other hand, there are few people who frequently change their phone number, so it is thought that the delivery rate of SMS is high. Additionally, even if you have multiple phone numbers, it is common to check for incoming calls and messages, so open rates are expected to be high as well.
Communication costs can be reduced
If you send a message by phone, there will be a charge for the call. If you have a lot to say, the call time will be longer and the call charges will be higher. Additionally, you can only contact one person per call, so if you have many customers, not only will the call charges be huge, but the personnel costs will also be high.
On the other hand, SMS can be sent for a fixed fee, reducing communication costs. Even if there is a large amount of information, you can send it for a fixed fee by attaching a link and displaying it on another web page.
You can also reduce labor costs by sending messages to multiple phone numbers at once. Consider SMS when you want to reduce communication costs.
Applications of SMS in business
In business, SMS is mainly used for the following purposes:
The purpose of each will be explained in detail.
2 step verification
When making contracts or sales over the Internet, we use SMS to verify your identity in order to proceed more carefully. Additionally, when using personal information for service registration, login, etc., we also use SMS to verify your identity.
There is also a method of sending an image of an identification document such as a driver’s license, but sending and receiving important documents is a security risk and should be avoided if possible. Achieve safer transactions by using SMS, which allows you to verify your identity with just your phone number.
Emergency communication to employees
SMS can also be used to contact employees in an emergency. With SMS, there is no need to install a separate app, and it is convenient because you can send it to all employees who have smartphones.
Another feature of SMS is that it can be used even if there is no internet available. Send instant messages anywhere you have phone coverage, so you can reach your employees even when they don’t have Wi-Fi.
Approach to customers
Because it has a higher customer reach rate than email, it is also suitable for sending important information such as checking payment status and shipping notifications. It can also be widely used for reservations, reminders of viewed products, satisfaction surveys, etc.
SMS is also recommended as a means of approaching potential customers. By providing the right information at the right time, you can not only increase awareness of your products and services, but also lead to purchasing decisions.
In addition to SMS, web tools such as SNS and email may be used for marketing. You can download a free guidebook that explains BtoB web marketing in an easy-to-understand manner below. Please feel free to use it.
Examples of how SMS services are used in companies
In the past, SMS was sometimes used as a means of notification from mobile companies. It is widely used to introduce new services, fees, and campaigns.
In recent years, companies other than mobile phone companies are increasingly using SMS to send messages. We will specifically introduce how SMS services are used in each industry.
Confirm reservation at hotel
When you book a hotel, you may receive a booking confirmation via SMS. This helps prevent misunderstandings and no-shows (customers not showing up on the day of their stay) by having them reconfirm the date, time, and details of their reservation.
You may be able to confirm your reservation multiple times, such as immediately after making the reservation, a few days before your stay, or the day before your stay. You can also use SMS to send thank you messages after your stay or to notify guests of items they have forgotten.
Identity verification when selling tickets
There has been an increase in the number of cases in which people are using SMS to verify their identity when selling tickets to concerts or sports matches. If the user’s phone number and seat number are linked when selling tickets, it will be difficult for one person to purchase multiple tickets, and it will be easier to prevent high-priced resale.
When using the identity verification service, users purchase tickets as follows.
1. Register as a member on the ticket sales site
2. Apply to purchase tickets from the ticket sales site
3. A verification code will be sent to the phone number used for membership registration.
4. Use the verification code to complete the purchase process
Email newsletter reminder
If the open rate of your email newsletter is low, you can consider using SMS to remind you of your email newsletter. After sending the e-mail newsletter, try sending the following message.
Mr.〇〇
This is △ Co., Ltd. We sent an e-mail magazine with the subject “△△” at 2:00 p.m. on the 20th. We are introducing the appeal of the campaign and new products ◇◇ starting this month. It’s worth reading. Please take a look!
There are reports that sending reminder messages via SMS actually improves the open rate of email newsletters. Additionally, the click rate of URLs in email newsletters will increase, and you can expect an increase in conversion rates.
Guide to survey site
In some cases, a message with the URL of a survey site is sent to customers who have purchased a product or service. Since you can do everything from checking messages to answering surveys in one stop, response rates tend to improve.
Information on payment deadlines and reminders
When collecting fees using bank transfer or payment slips, payment deadlines and fees may be notified via SMS. You can also use SMS to send reminders to customers who are late on payments.
SMS has a high open rate, so it has the advantage of being easier to spread awareness than sending a collection letter by mail. You can also save on shipping costs compared to mailing.
If you don’t receive an SMS, check your settings and signal status.
If you do not receive an SMS, there may be some underlying cause. Let’s improve the situation by referring to the causes and solutions introduced here.
The number of companies using SMS is also increasing. SMS, which has a high open rate and is easy to send, should be used as a means of marketing and communication with customers.