Electronics

[Lynnj]

Your cell phone will be charged for received texts. Check you plan, some come with unlimited, or x amount for $5, etc. So yes, it's free to send it from your computer, but the person receiving it on their cell will be charged for each text if they don't have a plan that includes it. As for those that mention Apple iMessage, that is a totally free text service between those both using Apple products.

[NYC Susan]

On 5/18/2014 Caffeina said:

You can send texts from your computer without downloading software or registering for a service. Just use your email.

To email a text use the email addresses below, but substitute the 10-digit cell phone number where it says "number." Cell phones can sent texts to email addresses too, not just other cell phones.

• AT&T: number@txt.att.net
• T-Mobile: number@tmomail.net
• Verizon: number@vtext.com
• Sprint: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com or number@pm.sprint.com
• Virgin Mobile: number@vmobl.com
• Tracfone: number@mmst5.tracfone.com
• Metro PCS: number@mymetropcs.com
• Boost Mobile: number@myboostmobile.com
• Cricket: number@sms.mycricket.com
• Nextel: number@messaging.nextel.com
• Alltel: number@message.alltel.com
• Ptel: number@ptel.com
• Suncom: number@tms.suncom.com
• Qwest: number@qwestmp.com
• U.S. Cellular: number@email.uscc.net

I used to do this years ago. Not very often, so I forgot about it. But yes, it's been around for awhile, and you don't have to download anything.

[mima]

On 5/19/2014 NYC Susan said:

On 5/18/2014 Caffeina said:

You can send texts from your computer without downloading software or registering for a service. Just use your email.

To email a text use the email addresses below, but substitute the 10-digit cell phone number where it says "number." Cell phones can sent texts to email addresses too, not just other cell phones.

<ul> <li>AT&T: number@txt.att.net</li> <li>T-Mobile: number@tmomail.net</li> <li>Verizon: number@vtext.com</li> <li>Sprint: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com or number@pm.sprint.com</li> <li>Virgin Mobile: number@vmobl.com</li> <li>Tracfone: number@mmst5.tracfone.com</li> <li>Metro PCS: number@mymetropcs.com</li> <li>Boost Mobile: number@myboostmobile.com</li> <li>Cricket: number@sms.mycricket.com</li> <li>Nextel: number@messaging.nextel.com</li> <li>Alltel: number@message.alltel.com</li> <li>Ptel: number@ptel.com</li> <li>Suncom: number@tms.suncom.com</li> <li>Qwest: number@qwestmp.com</li> <li>U.S. Cellular: number@email.uscc.net</li> </ul>

I used to do this years ago. Not very often, so I forgot about it. But yes, it's been around for awhile, and you don't have to download anything.

Cool. I didn't know this. I googled and found some additional addresses for more cell phone companies including Straighttalk.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/27051/use-email-to-send-text-messages-sms-to-mobile-phones-for-free/

[curlywhitedog]

WOW, who knew?

Maria

[Nuttmeg]

On 5/18/2014 newziesuzie said:

Is there a hidden catch? How can you get texting totally free? Tia!

The Pinger app has an in-app purchase. It is not free.

[AlleyCat]

On 5/19/2014 nutmeg3 said:

On 5/18/2014 newziesuzie said:

Is there a hidden catch? How can you get texting totally free? Tia!

The Pinger app has an in-app purchase. It is not free.

I have used the Pinger App for a couple of years and never paid a cent. It is free. I think you can buy minutes to make calls but texts are free.

[Akane]

In addition to what Caffeina said, if you use Gmail, AOL (or AIM) and there are probably others, you can add mobile numbers to text in the chat areas of these services in the web browser.

[Serenity-Now]

You can also send an email as a txt, but it takes some research first--you have to find out what their phone carrier is, such as Nokia, Verizon, AT&T, and then search online to find out what the transforming email-to-txt changes are. You can just google the phrase, "How to send an email as a txt message' to find directions, then add the carrier name "for AT&T or Verizon" etc. For example, if their name is John Smith and their emails is JohnSmith@att.net, you may find that the txt transformation is just their number, 1234576@att.net ---but at a different carrier, it could be a certain txt domain you have to use. Here is a blurb I found on it, for those interested:

Type the recipient's 10-digit cell phone number followed by "@" and the cell carrier's email domain in the address box. For example, if the message recipient uses Verizon, it would be cellnumber@vtext.com. Sometimes there's a special domain for text messaging; check the cell carrier's website to find the correct domain.

Read more:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2132530_send-text-message-using-email.html#ixzz32BAJIXDJ

[Serenity-Now]

hmm. Only thing I would want to double-check is their privacy. I wouldn't want a third-party having rights to my txt conversations forevermore, but it sure would be handy! Their disclosure on this is @ http://www.pinger.com/content/eula/

[151949]

On 5/18/2014 Caffeina said:

You can send texts from your computer without downloading software or registering for a service. Just use your email.

To email a text use the email addresses below, but substitute the 10-digit cell phone number where it says "number." Cell phones can sent texts to email addresses too, not just other cell phones.

• AT&T: number@txt.att.net
• T-Mobile: number@tmomail.net
• Verizon: number@vtext.com
• Sprint: number@messaging.sprintpcs.com or number@pm.sprint.com
• Virgin Mobile: number@vmobl.com
• Tracfone: number@mmst5.tracfone.com
• Metro PCS: number@mymetropcs.com
• Boost Mobile: number@myboostmobile.com
• Cricket: number@sms.mycricket.com
• Nextel: number@messaging.nextel.com
• Alltel: number@message.alltel.com
• Ptel: number@ptel.com
• Suncom: number@tms.suncom.com
• Qwest: number@qwestmp.com
• U.S. Cellular: number@email.uscc.net

My DH does not text but uses his computer to send me texts using this feature all the time. The only thing is - you have to know the receiving party's cell carrier.