This paper looks into the features of SMS (short message service) relevant to building a remote monitoring system. Based on the analysis of SMS, a set of guidelines for customizing the user data protocol of short messages are presented. The paper brings forward a method for encapsulating a Modbus message into a short message. It then discusses user data protocol of ASCII-coded immediate alarm short messages and instruction short messages that are transmitted between monitoring systems and mobile handsets. It also expounds on the software design of the gateway for a remote monitoring system based on SMS.