SMSC stands for Short Message Service Centre. This is a list of SMSCs from around the world. You need to set an SMSC in your digital cellular phone in order to send SMSs to other users. You will normally set the SMSC recommended for your own cellular phone network.

It has been found that using another SMSC may enable you to send SMSs to users on different networks from your own.

It is good practice when sending SMSs to use international format for the destination number e.g. +44973222679 for me, where my UK mobile phone number is 0973 222679 and the UK country code is 44. '+' is the standard way of signifying an international prefix.

You should also be aware that on some networks SMSs from foreign SMSCs cannot be delivered to certain numbers. For example in the UK Orange users whose number is +44973xxxxxx can receive SMSs from foreign SMSCs but Orange users whose number is +44976xxxxxx, +44966xxxxxx, +447967xxxxxx, +447968xxxxxx, +447970xxxxxx, +447971xxxxxx, +447974xxxxxx, +447977xxxxxx, +447980xxxxxx etc cannot receive these SMSs and can only receive SMSs from their own or other UK Network SMSCs. Additonally, SMS routing may not always be in place between a particular SMSC and a particular network. You may well be able to send me an SMS but you may not be able to receive my reply even though my reply is sent successfully. An SMSC that is accessible for users from one network may not be accessible for users from another network. For this reason, the SMSCs that work vary from network to network.

Some SMSCs are being upgraded to Phase 2 and, where known, are shown with Phase 2 in the notes column. This means that these SMSCs support 8-bit data and therefore they can send ring tones, group graphics and operator logos to compatible handsets. Some of these handsets are Nokia 51xx, 61xx and 71xx models. There may be some from other manufacturers as well.

The information here has been collated from various sources and, as such, may not be wholly accurate. It is provided for information and general interest. A link to each Network Operator's web site is included, where known. Please, though, don't ask me to tell you which SMSCs are still accepting and delivering SMS from UK users. I also have no way of knowing which SMSCs work for a network anywhere else in the world, so please don't ask me this either. The only way to find out is by testing the SMSCs in the list for yourself.