How to Track Text Messages on Cell Phones
Text messaging---also known as short messaging service, or SMS---is used to send and receive written messages of up to 160 characters on cell phones, which have supported this form of communication since the mid-1980s. Cell phone users worldwide communicate via text because it is fast, reliable and discreet. A convenient feature of cell phones is that text message details can be tracked through the device's history until deleted, or until the message storage capacity is reached and the messages are replaced by more recent ones.
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Instructions
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Go to the messaging menu. From your cell phone's main menu, go to your messaging program, which may be named "Messaging" or "Messages."
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Select a folder. Many cell phones have folders named "Inbox," "Sent" and "Drafts." Some devices, such as BlackBerry smart phones, will include all messages in one list. And some phones have threaded messaging, which will list according to contacts---once you select a contact, you will see all sent and received messages in one thread.
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Select a message to view the details. You can view the phone number, the sender's or recipient's name if it's in the phone's contact list, dates and times, and the message body copy.
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Tips & Warnings
Sign up for an online account on your wireless carrier's website to track text information. Look for bill details; text messages may be listed under data details. While you will not be able to read the message body copy, you can view phone numbers, dates and times.
References
- Photo Credit New message on 3d rendered cell phone image by Franc Podgor...¡ek from Fotolia.com
