SMS messaging has a global reach of over 7 billion devices and is one of the most widely used forms of communication today. SMS messaging has become more than just a personal form of communication and is now an effective tool for businesses to market their products and services. It is no wonder many companies are putting in bigger budgets to ensure smooth and efficient SMS marketing campaigns. However, SMS jargons are confusing, and one such term is “Sent” and “Delivered” when it comes to text messages.
It is imperative to decipher the status of our text messages, especially when we send out updates or engage with a new customer. The last thing anyone needs is for their message to be readied. That’s why now, more than ever, there has never been a better time to decode the text message status. This article delves deeper into the differences in the message status, sent and delivered.
What does “Sent” mean in an SMS Message?
A “Sent” status in SMS messages means the message has been forwarded to the network provider or carrier. It will be processed for delivery to the recipient number. Although a sent status gives the impression that the message is successfully rolling toward the receiving individual or customer’s device, it is just the start.
Companies implementing SMS marketing campaigns should not be too confident after getting the sent status of the messages they send to their customers. There are still a few possible reasons why the message may not reach the recipient’s device even after receiving the sent status.
When a message has been sent status, it has not reached the customer’s mobile number. It needs to reach the server that will deliver it to the mobile phones of the receiver.
If your company uses an SMS marketing platform, losing an internet connection will cause the message to fail to reach the intended receiver, and you will be unable to send a notification.
What does “Delivered” mean in Text Message?
A “Delivered” status in an SMS message means that the text message has reached its intended recipient and is being stored on their device. According to reports, 92 percent of all text messages are read within three minutes of delivery.
When a message has been delivered, it has reached its destination and is stored in the recipient’s inbox. The recipient can either read or delete the message at their convenience.
After sending an SMS message, the service provider receives a notification confirming that it has been delivered to the recipient’s device. That is followed by another signal informing us that the text was successfully received. On rare occasions, remote areas of the world may lack a highly developed mobile network, and a delivery report can fail. It causes the status of your text message to remain “sent” even though it has been successfully delivered.
Message status reports can be misleading, as even when they show “delivered,” there are times the customer’s phone has still not received your text. In these cases, a full inbox or device memory could be to blame – but never fear! Simply clearing the cache and restarting the device should resolve any issues.
Why does it say Sent in Text Message?
A text message says that it is “Sent” in the status because the message hasn’t been delivered to the recipient’s mobile phone yet. The “Sent” status means that your message has been sent from the service provider, but it may not reach its final destination due to various reasons, such as poor network coverage.
If the text is still in “Sent” status and doesn’t change to “failed,” you can be confident that it will eventually reach your customer. They may be engaged on a call or occupied when you send them an SMS, so refrain from sending multiple messages at once. If 72 hours pass without any changes, resend the exact text for optimal results.
Why does it say Delivered in Text Message?
A text message says that it is “Delivered” in the status because the message has successfully reached its intended recipient’s mobile phone. The “Delivered” status means that your message has been sent from the service provider and received by the recipient’s device.
There are various reasons why SMS messages have a “sent” status but are not delivered and received by customers on their mobile phones. The network will receive these messages and be forwarded them to the intended recipient when deemed deliverable. It will have the sent status if it has one of the following reasons.
- Poor network signal – If the network is poor or congested, it can cause a delay in message delivery.
- Phone battery is dead or low – If the recipient’s phone does not have enough power to receive text messages, it will remain in sent status until it has sufficient capacity to interpret and store the message.
- Incorrect number – If you enter a wrong number, the message will remain in sent status as it cannot be delivered.
- The phone is switched off – If the recipient’s phone is turned off, the delivery of text messages will become delayed until they switch their phone back on.
What are the possible reasons for Delivered Text Messages?
When an SMS message has been successfully delivered to its intended recipient, it will generally show a delivered status. The network will forward messages to the intended recipient, and if it is deemed as deliverable, it will have a delivered status. Possible reasons for this can be:
- Strong network signal – If there is a strong connection, the message will be quickly sent and received by its destination.
- The recipient’s phone is on – If the customer’s phone is powered on, it will be able to receive messages without delay.
- The number is correct – Ensure you send the message to the right person by double-checking their phone number.
- No issues with memory or cache – Make sure there are no problems with their device memory or cache, as this can cause delays in message delivery.
How to tell if an SMS Message is Sent?
There are several ways to check the status of the SMS message to know if it is sent or failed to send. Depending on the device you use, it will vary on how you can check the status of your messages.
- For iPhones – Go to the messages app and look for a “Sending…” status for each message. If it is still in this state and has stayed the same after a few minutes, there might be an issue with sending the message.
- For Android devices – Go to the Message app and look for the three dots or clock icon beside the message that indicates it is still sending.
- SMS Marketing platforms – If you use a third-party application for SMS marketing, there will be an option to check the status of each sent message. It will also allow you to track the delivery rate of messages and other valuable statistics.
How to tell if SMS Message is Delivered?
You can check the status of an SMS message to know if it has been delivered or not by looking at your device’s messaging app. Depending on the device you use, it will vary how to check the status of a message.
- For iPhones – Go to the Messages app and look for a “Delivered” status beside each message. If this appears, then your message has been successfully sent.
- For Android devices – Go to the Messages app and look for the checkmark icon beside the message. It indicates that your message has been sent and received by its recipient.
- SMS Marketing platforms – If you use a third-party application for SMS marketing, there will be an option to check the status of each sent message. It will also allow you to track the delivery rate of messages and other valuable statistics.
Does a Delivered Text Message mean it was read already?
No. A delivered text message status does not necessarily mean that the recipient reads the message. It simply means that the message was received by their device and is stored in their memory. The recipient may still choose not to read or open the message, even though it has been delivered successfully. Sometimes, recipients will delete messages without reading them if they are not interested or do not know the sender.
Companies using SMS marketing platforms must create effective templates to ensure that their customers will read and act on the text messages they send. They should also include a call-to-action such as “Tap Here” to encourage customers to take action and engage with their message.
Does the fact that a Text Message has been Delivered imply that your Number is not blocked?
Yes. The receiver does not block a sender if the message status shows that it is “Delivered.” This confirmation proves that the recipient received the message, so there is no need to worry about being blocked.
If you are concerned that someone has blocked you, browse your conversations and look for a ‘delivered’ status on the last message they responded to. If there is no ‘delivered’ notification under any messages sent after that, it could indicate they have blocked you.
Do “Sent” Messages in Android and iPhone mean the same?
Yes. The same sent message status applies to both iOS and Android devices. In both systems, you will receive a notification that the message was sent successfully, which usually appears in green or blue depending on the messaging app. iOS and Android have different messaging apps, and the mechanisms may differ.
Getting the “sent” message status does not necessarily mean that the message’s recipient has blocked you. If you are using an iOS device, you will often see two types of statuses for your message, Delivered or Read. If a person has blocked your texts, you will not see any statuses for the message you sent. However, blocking is only one of the reasons you don’t get any status updates on such text messages.
If your contact has their phone set to Do Not Disturb mode, you will get a notification once they turn that option off. If a few days have passed and still nothing has been received from them, consider blocking as the most likely explanation.
If you’re using an iPhone and trying to communicate with a friend who owns an Android device, your message will be sent as an SMS text in green–not through iMessage. However, Apple’s iMessaging feature is exclusively available on iPhones (and other compatible devices like iPads). If a message is sent through iMessage, the status of ‘Delivered’ usually appears in blue.
The message will appear green for Android users, and you may see two checkmark icons. One indicates the message has been sent, while the other shows that the message has been delivered successfully.
Do “Delivered” Messages in Android and iPhone mean the same?
Yes. The meaning of “delivered” is similar in Android and iPhone devices. It indicates that the recipient’s device successfully received the message, and is stored in their memory. However, this does not necessarily mean that the person has yet opened or read the message. Depending on their device and its messaging app, you can also tell if a message has been read.
Does a Sent Message mean a Failed Message?
No, a sent message does not necessarily mean that the message failed to be delivered. It only means that the message was successfully transmitted from your device and went through the appropriate channels before reaching its recipient. There are many reasons a message might fail, such as the recipient’s device being switched off, their phone not having a signal or data connection, or if the message is too large.
Does SMS Marketing also experience Sent and Delivered Messages?
Yes. The same sent and delivered statuses apply to SMS marketing messages as they do to personal text conversations. You can track each delivery status if you send a bulk SMS message. Each recipient should receive the ‘Sent’ and ‘Delivered’ notifications if your messages are successful. However, it is essential to note that not all recipients may open or read the message even if it was successfully delivered.