The world's first text message was sent 33 years ago today, this is what it said
Published on Dec 03, 2025 at 2:59 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Dec 03, 2025 at 3:13 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Remarkably, the first text message was sent exactly 33 years ago, kickstarting a tech revolution with just two simple words.
Text messages are now an integral part of our everyday lives, allowing us to talk to our friends, family, and colleagues in an instant, anywhere in the world.
But when the first message was sent over three decades ago, it was a revelation, and it’s unlikely anyone knew how fundamental they would become to society.
A lot has changed since that first message, with many of us now also owners of smartphones, giving us access to the world in an instant.
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What did the first text message say?
The first text message was sent on December 3rd, 1992.
Engineer Neil Papworth sent it from his computer to Richard Jarvis on his Orbital 901 phone at Vodafone.
At the time, mobiles were unable to send texts, but they were able to receive them.
Of course, you might expect the first text ever to say something deeply moving and profound.
However, that is not what it said in the slightest.
The message consisted of just two words:
Given the time of year, it feels quite appropriate that this was what it said.
Little did Papworth and Jarvis know what a revolution that simple message would kickstart.
Text messaging is now an integral part of our lives
Texts are now sent by millions of people every second around the world.
Thanks to smartphones, we can now send them with emojis, GIFs, and of course, over more than just SMS.
Messages can be sent via apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and we can, of course, be part of group chats with our friends.
The messages also used to have a character limit, with early messages limited to just 160 characters.
That is only 20 more than we were initially allowed to use on Twitter!
This character limit is what prompted ‘text speak’, where words were shortened, such as LOL, which of course means laugh out loud.
The remarkable thing is that this revolution started from just two words over 30 years ago.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
