Service Message Mischief

21 Oct 2009

If you've ever dived into the advanced messaging settings on most mobiles, you've probably come across a setting for service messages, ignored it, and moved on to other things. Service messages differ from SMS in that there is no mechanism to store the message or show sender details and if you're using a Softbank iPhone, is used to notify you of new mail at your @i.softbank.jp account.

I've got mail

I had always assumed that sending service messages was restricted to carriers but over beers with Finnish colleague @juhov learnt service messages are called flash messages in Finland and mobiles there not only receive but can also send these flash messages. This opens up the possibility for a lot of mischief at the hands of the Finns:

A more interesting service message