A method and system for processing a fixed format short message service (SMS) text message for alerting a user of a mobile phone to significant information in the message received by the mobile phone. Program code stored in memory on the mobile phone executes the method on a processor. A value of each preset variable of at least two preset variables is retrieved from the memory on the mobile phone. The mobile phone receives the message from a sender. The message is ascertained to be significant by ascertaining that the received message passes at least one test. Each test utilizes at least one aspect of the received message and the retrieved value of at least one preset variable. Responsive to the ascertaining, default handset settings of the mobile phone are overridden and the user is alerted by an audio tone or vibration that the received message is significant.