Plain text messages can be composed using either handwriting recognition or keypad input depending on the input capabilities of the device. After the text has been entered, the user may either enter a phone number or select an entry from their Contacts list to send the message to.
The user may invoke the text message composer from within the Messages application or via the Dialer, Call History and Contacts applications, or via a Speed Dial shortcut.
A business card generated from an entry in the user's Contacts list can also be sent via SMS from the Contacts application. In this case, the user may not enter any additional text into the message, so the message composer goes directly to choosing a phone number or contact to sent the business card to.
Viewing Messages
Received text messages can be viewed using the Messages application. Received SMS messages appear in an SMS folder in the main folder list.
Received business cards are automatically added to the user's Contacts list when the user attempts to view a message containing a business card.
When one or more new SMS messages are received, an alert is displayed on the Home Screen and the Home Screen's context menu includes an option to view the new message(s). Selecting this option takes the user directly to the first new message in the SMS folder of the Messages application.
Managing Messages
The Messages application provides features for moving, copying and deleting SMS messages stored in the SMS folder.
Transport and Receipt
Files
Received SMS messages are stored persistently in a message folder on the device's filesystem.
Services
The Messages application provides a service for other applications to invoke the SMS composer. This service is used by the Dialer, Speed Dial and Call History.
The Messages application provides a service for other applications to display the SMS messages folder. This service is used by Speed Dial.
The Messages application provides a service for other applications to send business cards via SMS. This service is used by the Contacts application.
The Messages application provides a service allowing other applications to send the user internally generated SMS messages. This service is used by the Safe Execution Environment to send the user automated notifications about applications that attempt to violate their allowed security profiles.
Dependencies
The SMS features of the Messages application depend on the Contacts application for the ability to select a contact to send a new text message to.
