<P> SMS messaging was used for the first time on 3 December 1992 , when Neil Papworth , a 22 - year - old test engineer for Sema Group in the UK ( now Airwide Solutions ) , used a personal computer to send the text message `` Merry Christmas '' via the Vodafone network to the phone of Richard Jarvis who was at a party in Newbury , Berkshire which had been organised to celebrate the event . Modern SMS text messaging is usually messaging from one mobile phone to another mobile phone . Finnish Radiolinja became the first network to offer a commercial person - to - person SMS text messaging service in 1994 . When Radiolinja 's domestic competitor , Telecom Finland ( now part of TeliaSonera ) also launched SMS text messaging in 1995 and the two networks offered cross-network SMS functionality , Finland became the first nation where SMS text messaging was offered on a competitive as well as on a commercial basis . GSM was allowed in the United States and the radio frequencies were blocked and awarded to US `` Carriers '' to use US technology . Hence there is no `` development '' in the US in mobile messaging service . The GSM in the US had to use a frequency allocated for private communication services ( PCS ) -- what the ITU frequency régime had blocked for DECT -- Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications -- 1000 - feet range picocell , but survived . American Personal Communications ( APC ) , the first GSM carrier in America , provided the first text - messaging service in the United States . Sprint Telecommunications Venture , a partnership of Sprint Corp. and three large cable - TV companies , owned 49 percent of APC . The Sprint venture was the largest single buyer at a government - run spectrum auction that raised $7.7 billion in 2005 for PCS licenses . APC operated under the brand name of Sprint Spectrum and launched its service on November 15 , 1995 in Washington , D.C. and in Baltimore , Maryland . Vice President Al Gore in Washington , D.C. made the initial phone - call to launch the network , calling Mayor Kurt Schmoke in Baltimore . </P>
<P> SMS messaging was used for the first time on 3 December 1992 , when Neil Papworth , a 22 - year - old test engineer for Sema Group in the UK ( now Airwide Solutions ) , used a personal computer to send the text message `` Merry Christmas '' via the Vodafone network to the phone of Richard Jarvis who was at a party in Newbury , Berkshire which had been organised to celebrate the event . Modern SMS text messaging is usually messaging from one mobile phone to another mobile phone . Finnish Radiolinja became the first network to offer a commercial person - to - person SMS text messaging service in 1994 . When Radiolinja 's domestic competitor , Telecom Finland ( now part of TeliaSonera ) also launched SMS text messaging in 1995 and the two networks offered cross-network SMS functionality , Finland became the first nation where SMS text messaging was offered on a competitive as well as on a commercial basis . GSM was allowed in the United States and the radio frequencies were blocked and awarded to US `` Carriers '' to use US technology . Hence there is no `` development '' in the US in mobile messaging service . The GSM in the US had to use a frequency allocated for private communication services ( PCS ) -- what the ITU frequency régime had blocked for DECT -- Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications -- 1000 - feet range picocell , but survived . American Personal Communications ( APC ) , the first GSM carrier in America , provided the first text - messaging service in the United States . Sprint Telecommunications Venture , a partnership of Sprint Corp. and three large cable - TV companies , owned 49 percent of APC . The Sprint venture was the largest single buyer at a government - run spectrum auction that raised $7.7 billion in 2005 for PCS licenses . APC operated under the brand name of Sprint Spectrum and launched its service on November 15 , 1995 in Washington , D.C. and in Baltimore , Maryland . Vice President Al Gore in Washington , D.C. made the initial phone - call to launch the network , calling Mayor Kurt Schmoke in Baltimore . </P>
when did text messaging start in the uk
when did text messaging start in the uk
3 December 1992
3 December 1992