How to use text messaging on your mobile phone
Text messages allow you to communicate quickly with your loved ones who also have a mobile phone. When you receive a text message, your phone notifies you with a sound alert or by displaying a symbol or message on the screen.
When you text your contacts, their phones ring or vibrate almost instantaneously.
Note that depending on your device, you can configure your settings to get a notification when the messages you send have been read or received.
For instructions on how to do this, enter Support followed by your device model in the search bar at the top of the page to find your phone’s user guide.
Good to know
If you receive a text message when you’re outside the coverage zone or your mobile phone is turned off, your messages will be stored for 72 hours. They will then be sent to you as soon as your mobile phone is able to receive them.
When are text messages billed?
Incoming text messages
Only multimedia text messages (MMS) received when you are in an area not included in your plan are billed. The amount billed is for data used while roaming to consult the media attached to the text message (images, videos, GIF, etc.).
Outgoing text messages
Text messages you send are billed on a per-use basis if:
- You have exceeded your plan’s text limit
- You are in an area not covered by your plan
A data transmission fee is added if the billed text message contains media. View our pay-per-use rates.
Long-distance fees do not apply to incoming or outgoing text messages (SMS or MMS).
Is there a character limit when I send a text message?
When sending text messages, there is usually a limit of 160 characters (GSM or 7-bit encoded characters). However, this limit may be lower depending on the type of device used and the characters used in the message:
- Limit of 140 characters: Some phones support 8-bit encoding, and the limit is 140 characters instead of 160 characters.
- Limit of 70 characters: Some French characters (such as ê or â) automatically convert to UCS-2 Unicode encoded characters. The limit is 70 characters instead of 160.
If you send a text message in excess of 160 characters, your message will be split into two or more messages. In most cases, if the recipient has a smartphone, they will receive the message as a whole. If they have a regular phone, they will receive it in several parts.
