Sending text messages from any computer.

http://www.aim.com/ ^ | 2008-09-13 | JustLurking

[justlurking]

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the cell-phone systems are likely to be overloaded. Please don't call into the affected areas: wait for them to call you.

If you really want to get a message in to see if they are OK, send a text message. If you don't have a cell phone or don't want to spend the 10-20 cents per message to send and receive them, there are several ways to do so from your computer:

1. If you know which cell phone service is used by the recipient, you can send it directly from that company's website:
   • Verizon
   • Sprint
   • T-Mobile

   AT&T/Cingular requires a login, so you have to be a customer of AT&T to use it. Yes, it's lame -- but I suspect it was being abused.

2. You can also use Google to search for "send text message", and find many sites on the web that will do so. Check the terms and conditions carefully, as you may be giving them permission to send other stuff that you don't want.

   If you are using AOL's instant messaging program (AIM), or any third party program that works with AOL (such as Pidgin), you can send and receive text messages via IM. Just create a "buddy" entry and use the following form to enter the recipient's cell phone number as the buddy's username:

   +1AAABBBZZZZ

   If the recipient replies to the text message, it will appear in your Instant Messaging client window.

If the recipient hasn't completely blocked text messages, they should receive your query. They may be charged 10-20 cents for each message sent and received, so keep your conversation short!

[Fzob]

Thanks

Bump

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Hey I clicked on the Verison site and saw this too.

It looks like a discount can be applied to your personal account if your company has one with them. All they need is your company email address.

Sorry off topic, but thought that was kinda cool. I'm gonna go see if my company has one.

[sportutegrl]

This was the only way (texting) I could get in touch with my family in BR after Hurricane Gustav. I still have trouble getting a call to them, too many fast busys. Even my mom learned how to text me back.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

bookmark

[Lancey Howard]

Interesting.

Bookmarked.

[brytlea]

Thank you for posting this, I had no idea!
susie

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Update: Holy Cow! I get a 14% discount! That'll save me about $40 a month. I'm walking though the process now and moving. here is the link i found

I gotta tell the misses.. She thinks I never find deals.

[glorgau]

Just use email

A quick Google gets this reference:

Open Email to SMS Service

Big thing to remember is that SMS is limited to 256 chars per message.

[comps4spice]

You can use your own email client to send text messages.

Just Google for email to SMS. Here are a few:

Alltel
[10-digit phone number]@message.alltel.com
Example: 2125551212@message.alltel.com

AT&T (formerly Cingular)
[10-digit phone number]@txt.att.net
Example: 2125551212@txt.att.net

Boost Mobile
[10-digit phone number]@myboostmobile.com
Example: 2125551212@myboostmobile.com

Nextel (now part of Sprint Nextel)
[10-digit telephone number]@messaging.nextel.com
Example: 7035551234@messaging.nextel.com

Sprint PCS (now Sprint Nextel)
[10-digit phone number]@messaging.sprintpcs.com
Example: 2125551234@messaging.sprintpcs.com

T-Mobile
[10-digit phone number]@tmomail.net
Example: 4251234567@tmomail.net

Verizon
[10-digit phone number]@vtext.com
Example: 5552223333@vtext.com

Virgin Mobile USA
[10-digit phone number]@vmobl.com
Example: 5551234567@vmobl.com

[ThePythonicCow]

Just use email ... Open Email to SMS Service

Yes - that works. I put in my cell phone number and provider, and it showed me the email address that I know is correct, because I use it routinely. I have a Google Calendar account setup to email reminders of events, as they come up, in the form of text messages to my cell phone.

[justlurking]

I thought about posting the email addresses, but I know a few people that have disabled SMS messages via email — they were getting too much spam.

[VirginiaMom]

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