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160 Char text limit

Nope thats a limitation to the technology that carries SMS messages. You may be able to send an MMS which allows for longer messages or there may be an app for splitting messages but then it would be difficult for the app to know when its someone outside the network. I find it quite cool that the thing automatically sends MMSs to people on VZW. Kinda wish my Storm would do that.
 
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Verizon's auto-reply text message about messaging people on other networks getting only getting the first 160 characters is only half true.

They receive only the first 160 characters for that intial text message. However, additional text messages are sent to the recipient in 160 character increments until the entire message is sent. This is done automatically. It is not a feature of android, it is how the text messaging system works.

example:

160 characters or less = 1 text message
161 characters to 320 characters = 2 text messages
321 characters to 480 characters = 3 text messages
and so on.

So, there is no need to switch to sending MMS messages. Unless you're actually sending a pic or movie. Hope that helps.
 
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Verizon's auto-reply text message about messaging people on other networks getting only getting the first 160 characters is only half true.

They receive only the first 160 characters for that intial text message. However, additional text messages are sent to the recipient in 160 character increments until the entire message is sent. This is done automatically. It is not a feature of android, it is how the text messaging system works.

example:

160 characters or less = 1 text message
161 characters to 320 characters = 2 text messages
321 characters to 480 characters = 3 text messages
and so on.

So, there is no need to switch to sending MMS messages. Unless you're actually sending a pic or movie. Hope that helps.

so do you think this is a droid issue? everytime ive gone over 160, my friends have said it just cuts off and nothing else is sent
 
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so do you think this is a droid issue? everytime ive gone over 160, my friends have said it just cuts off and nothing else is sent

Well, I have a Motorola Droid on Verizon(obviously), and my GF lives in Canada and is on Telus with a BB Pearl. I just sent her a text over 160 chars long to test this out, and she got the entire message broken up into 2 different text messages.

Not sure why this works, perhaps it has something to do with the recipients network as well?
 
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Just sent a long text and this is what I got.

"FREE_VZW_MSG: Messages sent to non-VZW customers with graphics/tones/formatting and/or 160+ characters are sent as plain text with only the first 160 characters"

Yes, I get that too. I got the same message on my old phone as well (also with Verizon). However, everyone I've ever sent a longer than 160 char text message to has gotten the entirety of the message broken up among more than 1 text message. This is why I'm assuming it might have something to do with which network the recipient is on as well.

And after looking into things a bit further, Telus is also a CDMA carrier. That might be part of the reason my longer texts were going through despite Verizon's warning.

Which network is your friend on that they only receive the first text?
 
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Have no idea then. I have Handscent SMS on my Droid. But, as I said earlier, the messages were sent in their entirety even on my old phone, so I really don't think it is a Droid issue. More like a Verizon type thing.

If that's the case I geuss just sending MMS's are better for the longer essay like convo's. Or, just keep it short and simple :)
 
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I don't have my Droid yet (getting it tomorrow), so I'm just speculating here, but let's say everyone is right. Perhaps Verizon does split up SMS messages to non-VZW customers. I know they split them up for VZW customers, and I'm pretty sure this is a carrier thing, not a phone thing. Perhaps, also, Verizon converts MMS messages to a single SMS (160 chars. max) for non-VZW customers. The Droid apparently has a feature that converts 160+ character SMS messages into MMS messages (this is definitely a Droid thing, not a carrier thing). However, you can't send MMS messages to non-VZW phones, so Verizon converts it back to a SMS. Perhaps it is the conversion process from MMS back to SMS where you are actually getting cut off. If this is the case, then it seems that this could be overcome by turning off the option to convert long SMS messages to MMS... if you can turn it off.

Just my $0.02.
 
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Just wanted to add my experience to the mix: sending VZW to VZW, the 160+ character split does its job without any problems.

Sending VZW to Sprint, my friends only receive the first (160 char) part of my text.

However, you can't send MMS messages to non-VZW phones

Are you sure about this? I was under the impression that as long as your phone and the recipient's phone has MMS capabilities then there should be no issues regardless of carrier.
 
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This is weird my droid tells me that it has auto converted my txt message to mms if I go over 160. Does anyone droid do that? Mine says it everytime

Yeah, mine does too. Doesn't really matter though for me at least, I tried sending one to my sister at ATT and it just tells me all she's gonna get is the first 160.
 
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Just wanted to add my experience to the mix: sending VZW to VZW, the 160+ character split does its job without any problems.

Sending VZW to Sprint, my friends only receive the first (160 char) part of my text.



Are you sure about this? I was under the impression that as long as your phone and the recipient's phone has MMS capabilities then there should be no issues regardless of carrier.

I have sent pics to my sister with ATT, so that much I can do. But, with no pic in it, all she gets is the first 160 characters.
 
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