Text segment basics #
A text segment in VOIP messaging is limited to 160 characters when using the standard GSM 7‑bit alphabet. Adding emojis or non‑Latin characters requires UCS‑2 encoding, reducing the per‑segment limit to 70 characters. Messages longer than one segment are split into multiple segments using concatenated SMS.
SMS vs. MMS #
SMS is the standard format for text messages. MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) allows images, videos and audio but increases data size and cost. A single MMS can hold more text than an SMS segment, but sending multimedia content may require several MMS messages and is typically more expensive.
Best practices #
To avoid overages, keep messages concise and within one 160‑character segment when possible. Use special characters sparingly and educate your team about segment limits and the difference between SMS and MMS. Verify message length with a segment calculator (e.g., Twilio’s) before sending automated texts and plan campaigns accordingly.
