System and method for sending short text messages in mobile communication systems

In a mobile communication system for sending short text messages from a mobile communication network providing an SMS service to at least one first mobile phone to a different or identical mobile communication network providing the SMS service to at least one second mobile phone, a device for sending a short message on said first mobile phone, comprising:

• a message input section for inputting a short text message including a telephone number of the second mobile phone and an email address of a subscriber having the second mobile phone;
• an encoder for encoding the inputted short message in an SMS format;
• and
• a control section for controlling the message input section to input the short message and for controlling the encoder to encode the inputted short message in the SMS format and for sending the encoded short message to a short message service center.

In a method for sending short text messages from a mobile communication network providing an SMS service to at least one first mobile phone to a different or identical mobile communication network providing the SMS service to at least one second mobile phone in a mobile communication system, a process of sending a short message from the first mobile phone comprising:

• when a menu for simultaneous SMS and email services is selected on the first mobile phone, inputting a short message including a telephone number of the second mobile phone and an email address of a subscriber having the second mobile phone;
• encoding the inputted short message in an SMS format;
• and
• sending the encoded short message to a short message service center.

In a method for sending short text messages from a mobile communication network providing an SMS service to at least one first mobile phone to a different or identical mobile communication network providing the SMS service to at least one second mobile phone in a mobile communication system, a process of delivering a short message from a short message service center comprising:

• when the short message service center receives a short message from the first mobile phone, searching a header of the received short message;
• determining whether the header includes an email address of a subscriber having the second mobile phone;
• and
• when the header includes an email address, sending the short message to both the second mobile phone and the email address included in the header.