Abstract: A prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node performs prepaid SMS screening and accounting functions. When the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node receives an SMS message, it determines whether the originating subscriber is a ported subscriber attempting to access an SMSC from the donor network. If the originating subscriber is a ported subscriber attempting to access a donor network SMSC, the SMS message may be discarded. If the originating subscriber is not a ported subscriber, the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node determines whether the subscriber is a prepaid subscriber. If the subscriber is a prepaid subscriber, the prepaid SMS screening, routing, and accounting node determines whether the subscriber has sufficient credit to send the SMS message. If the subscriber has sufficient credit to send the message, the prepaid SMS screening, accounting, and routing node debits its accounting database and forwards the message to its intended destination.