A short message service (SMS) spam manager can help a person filter out unwanted SMS messages sent from one portable data device, such as a cellular telephone, to another. A person looking for such a manager has several options, and picking the best option for his specific needs depends on several factors. These include the operating system of the device on which the manager will be used, the way the manager identifies unwanted messages, and how much flexibility the user has in customizing the manager's features.
SMS messages are text-based content, and SMS spam messages are similar to unsolicited e-mail spam. Much like e-mail spam, SMS spam messages can be advertisements or scams. They are, generally, SMS messages the user doesn't want and hasn't asked to receive.
Before setting out to purchase or download a new SMS spam manager, users should first check to see if their cellular phone provider offers a free blocking service for unsolicited messages. Certain companies have blocking features in place that just need to be enabled by the user, either on the phone or through an account page on a website. A call to the user's cellular service provider can confirm or deny this within a few minutes.
When choosing an SMS spam manager, one of the biggest things to consider is the operating system running on the phone or device in question. Just like computers, mobile devices such as cell phones run on operating systems that enable them to perform functions and use programs. Not every SMS spam manager will work with every phone, so users should select a program that works with their particular phone if they want to successfully filter spam.
One important factor to look for in a quality SMS spam manager is the type of algorithm the program uses to identify unwanted messages. The definition of "unwanted" may vary from program to program. Some programs may only filter out messages from certain types of numbers or extensions, while others may automatically filter out any message received from a number not in the user's phone book.
Whether blocked messages are simply blocked or are automatically deleted is another factor that goes into picking what is considered the best SMS spam manager. If a spam manager accidentally blocks a legitimate text message, the user will need a way to retrieve it. If the spam manager automatically deletes blocked messages or stops the phone from receiving them altogether, it could cause the user to miss important information.
Another thing to consider is the level of control granted to the user by an SMS spam manager. Whether the default program settings are the ideal settings is something that will vary from person to person, so a program that enables a level of user control is a must. Certain programs also allow different levels of filtering. Where one program may allow the user to manually filter out messages from specific phone numbers, others may only block messages from "blocked" or "restricted" numbers.