Signal & Syntax · Messaging and A2P
What Is UCS-2 Encoding?
UCS-2 is the 16-bit SMS encoding for characters outside GSM-7. A single UCS-2 message holds 70 characters, and a split message holds 67 per segment.UCS-2 is the 16-bit SMS encoding for characters outside GSM-7. A single UCS-2 message holds 70 characters, and a split message holds 67 per segment.UCS-2 is the 16-bit SMS encoding for characters outside GSM-7. A single UCS-2 message holds 70 characters, and a split message holds 67 per segment.
Also calledUnicode SMS · 16-bit SMS
Example
70 single · 67 per segment
UCS-2 in Practice
Arabic, Chinese, emoji and curly quotes all need UCS-2. A message uses one encoding from the first character to the last. One UCS-2 character cuts a 160-character message to a 70-character limit. Emoji outside the Basic Multilingual Plane take two units each.Arabic, Chinese, emoji and curly quotes all need UCS-2. A message uses one encoding from the first character to the last. One UCS-2 character cuts a 160-character message to a 70-character limit. Emoji outside the Basic Multilingual Plane take two units each.Arabic, Chinese, emoji and curly quotes all need UCS-2. A message uses one encoding from the first character to the last. One UCS-2 character cuts a 160-character message to a 70-character limit. Emoji outside the Basic Multilingual Plane take two units each.
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Related Terms
Read the Guide
Guide
GSM-7, UCS-2 and SMS Segments Explained
How one character changes the segment count. Read the guide →Run the Checks on Your Own List
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