Abstract: A method of operating a mobile phone telecommunications network is provided, comprising using at least one mobile switching center (MSC) of the network to receive at least one message, and as a result to generate a mobile application part (MAP) message, transmitting the MAP message from the MSC to at least one service control point (SCP) of the network, and operating the SCP to process the MAP message. Processing of the MAP message by the SCP may comprise, for example, determining the subsequent handling of the MAP message, and charging a sender of the message received by the MSC. The message received by the MSC may comprise a text message, for example, a text message generated using the short message service (SMS).