How To Send SMS Message In Android

In Android, you can use SmsManager API or device’s Built-in SMS application to send a SMS message. In this tutorial, we show you two basic examples to send SMS message :

1. SmsManager API

   	SmsManager smsManager = SmsManager.getDefault();
   	smsManager.sendTextMessage("phoneNo", null, "sms message", null, null);

2. Built-in SMS application

   	Intent sendIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
   	sendIntent.putExtra("sms_body", "default content"); 
   	sendIntent.setType("vnd.android-dir/mms-sms");
   	startActivity(sendIntent);

Of course, both need SEND_SMS permission.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS" />

P.S This project is developed in Eclipse 3.7, and tested with Samsung Galaxy S2 (Android 2.3.3).

Note
The Built-in SMS application solution is the easiest way, because you let device handle everything for you.

1. SmsManager Example

Android layout file to textboxes (phone no, sms message) and button to send the SMS message.

File : res/layout/main.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:id="@+id/linearLayout1"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical" >
 
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textViewPhoneNo"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Enter Phone Number : "
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge" />
 
    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editTextPhoneNo"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:phoneNumber="true" >
    </EditText>
 
    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/textViewSMS"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Enter SMS Message : "
        android:textAppearance="?android:attr/textAppearanceLarge" />
 
    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/editTextSMS"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:inputType="textMultiLine"
        android:lines="5"
        android:gravity="top" />
 
    <Button
        android:id="@+id/buttonSend"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:text="Send" />
 
</LinearLayout>

File : SendSMSActivity.java – Activity to send SMS via SmsManager.

package com.mkyong.android;
 
import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.telephony.SmsManager;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;
 
public class SendSMSActivity extends Activity {
 
	Button buttonSend;
	EditText textPhoneNo;
	EditText textSMS;
 
	@Override
	public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
		super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
		setContentView(R.layout.main);
 
		buttonSend = (Button) findViewById(R.id.buttonSend);
		textPhoneNo = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editTextPhoneNo);
		textSMS = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.editTextSMS);
 

// main Logic to Send SMS 

	buttonSend.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {


 @Override

public void onClick(View v) {
String phoneNo = textPhoneNo.getText().toString();
String sms = textSMS.getText().toString();
try {
SmsManager smsManager = SmsManager.getDefault();
smsManager.sendTextMessage(phoneNo, null, sms, null, null);
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "SMS Sent!",Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
} catch (Exception e) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"SMS faild, please try again later!",Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
 }
}
});
	}
}

File : AndroidManifest.xml , need SEND_SMS permission.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.mkyong.android"
    android:versionCode="1"
    android:versionName="1.0" >
 
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="10" />
 
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS" />
 
    <application
        android:debuggable="true"
        android:icon="@drawable/ic_launcher"
        android:label="@string/app_name" >
        <activity
            android:label="@string/app_name"
            android:name=".SendSMSActivity" >
            <intent-filter >
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
        </activity>
    </application>
 
</manifest>

See demo :

To call Built in Application in Your Activity

try {
Intent sendIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW); sendIntent.putExtra("sms_body", "default content"); sendIntent.setType("vnd.android-dir/mms-sms"); startActivity(sendIntent);
} catch (Exception e) { Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"SMS faild, please try again later!",
Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show(); e.printStackTrace(); }