diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
index 361650439..9a0abbf7b 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameUtils.java
@@ -25,13 +25,13 @@ import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.graphics.Bitmap;
 import android.net.Uri;
+import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.os.Handler;
 import android.text.Html;
 import android.text.TextUtils;
 import android.view.Display;
 
-
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.CommonPrefs;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.CommsAddrRec;
 import org.eehouse.android.xw4.jni.CommsAddrRec.CommsConnType;
@@ -674,8 +674,8 @@ public class GameUtils {
         Uri gameUri = nli.makeLaunchUri( context );
         String asStr = gameUri.toString();
 
-        int sdk = android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;
-        if ( sdk < android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB ) {
+        int sdk = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;
+        if ( sdk < Build.VERSION_CODES.HONEYCOMB ) {
             android.text.ClipboardManager clipboard =
                 (android.text.ClipboardManager)
                 context.getSystemService(Context.CLIPBOARD_SERVICE);
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/InviteChoicesAlert.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/InviteChoicesAlert.java
index 1b5aab199..09489fd52 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/InviteChoicesAlert.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/InviteChoicesAlert.java
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ public class InviteChoicesAlert extends DlgDelegateAlert {
             lastMeans = ((SentInvitesInfo)state.m_params[0]).getLastMeans();
         }
 
-        add( items, means, R.string.invite_choice_user_sms, InviteMeans.SMS_USER );
         add( items, means, R.string.invite_choice_email, InviteMeans.EMAIL );
+        add( items, means, R.string.invite_choice_user_sms, InviteMeans.SMS_USER );
 
         if ( BTService.BTAvailable() ) {
             add( items, means, R.string.invite_choice_bt, InviteMeans.BLUETOOTH );
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ public class InviteChoicesAlert extends DlgDelegateAlert {
                     XWActivity activity = (XWActivity)getActivity();
                     sel[0] = pos;
                     switch ( means.get(pos) ) {
+                    case SMS_USER:
+                        activity
+                            .makeNotAgainBuilder( R.string.sms_invite_flakey,
+                                                  R.string.key_na_sms_invite_flakey )
+                            .show();
+                        break;
                     case CLIPBOARD:
                         String msg =
                             getString( R.string.not_again_clip_expl_fmt,
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWActivity.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWActivity.java
index df83b45fb..a0afec98f 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWActivity.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/XWActivity.java
@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@ public class XWActivity extends FragmentActivity
         return m_dlgt.makeNotAgainBuilder( msg, keyId );
     }
 
+    public DlgDelegate.NotAgainBuilder makeNotAgainBuilder( int msgID, int keyId )
+    {
+        return m_dlgt.makeNotAgainBuilder( msgID, keyId );
+    }
+
     public DlgDelegate.ConfirmThenBuilder makeConfirmThenBuilder( int msgID,
                                                                   Action action )
     {
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/common_rsrc.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
index 65e624f9e..fde42fefd 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/common_rsrc.xml
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
   <string name="key_na_studycopy">key_na_studycopy</string>
   <string name="key_na_fmt_expl">key_na_fmt_expl</string>
   <string name="key_na_clip_expl">key_na_clip_expl</string>
+  <string name="key_na_sms_invite_flakey">key_na_sms_invite_flakey</string>
   <string name="key_na_dicts">key_na_dicts</string>
   <string name="key_enable_debug">key_enable_debug</string>
   <string name="key_enable_dup_invite">key_enable_dup_invite</string>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 3d2f44f84..b45caa79e 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -579,6 +579,16 @@
     number %1$s on %2$s</string>
     <string name="invit_expl_usrsms_fmt">Invite sent via SMS messaging
     to phone number %1$s on %2$s</string>
+
+    <!-- shown when user chooses to invite via the default SMS app -->
+    <string name="sms_invite_flakey">This new option launches your
+    default SMS app with an invitation ready to send -- when it
+    works. Each SMS app is different, and some won\'t
+    cooperate.</string>
+
+    <!-- Toast when invite-by-visible-sms fails -->
+    <string name="sms_invite_fail">Unable to launch SMS app</string>
+
     <string name="invit_expl_bt_fmt">Invite sent via Bluetooth to
     paired device \"%1$s\" on %2$s</string>
     <string name="invit_expl_relay_fmt">Invite forwarded by the relay